Harry Wu, journalist for Southern Finance Omnimedia Corp (SFC)

Amid the booming development of AI, governance is of vital importance.

“Do not harm is the very first principle,” Bernardo Mariano Junior, Assistant Secretary-General and Chief Information Technology Officer of the United Nations, said in an interview with SFC. “Everyone needs to work towards the goal, ensuring that AI is used for the benefit of humanity. We must maximize its benefit while minimizing its risk.”

Coming from Mozambique, he said “there's a proverb in Africa that says that if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.”

Facing the risks of AI, Bernardo Mariano Junior emphasized the need for countries to unite and promote the participation of stakeholders—not only governments, but also academia, research institutes and the private sector—to ensure that AI is applied where it is needed and benefits everyone.

Bernardo Mariano Junior has about 30 years of experience within the United Nations system and international organizations, most recently serving as the Chief Information Officer and Director for Digital Health and Innovation at the World Health Organization (WHO), where he led the organization’s digital transformation journey, leveraging digital technologies and innovations to accelerate the achievement of WHO strategic goals.