Computer Science Student Delves into Ethical Considerations of AI During United Nations Summer Program
Wisdom Obinna's Journey to the United Nations: A Summer of Ethical Tech Discussions
Wisdom Obinna, a Ph.D. student in computer science at Georgetown University, recently participated in the Graduate Study Programme (GSP) at the United Nations Office in Geneva. This intensive two-week summer seminar provided Obinna with an immersive experience in diplomacy and international affairs.
Selected among over 1,250 applicants, Obinna joined a diverse group of 51 other graduate students from 41 countries. The programme's theme for 2025 was "UN80: Building Our Future Together", reflecting the UN's focus on global collaboration and future-oriented issues.
During the seminar, Obinna engaged deeply in international politics and diplomacy. One of his most significant contributions was to a working group that formulated recommendations on the ethical use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and brain-computer interfaces.
Prior to attending the GSP, Obinna participated in a fellowship focused on ethical technology through the lens of historical professional ethics. This fellowship took him to Germany and Poland, where he studied the Holocaust context and the dismantling of professional ethics during that period. This experience added depth to Obinna's understanding and complemented his doctoral research on AI’s impact on artists' creative agency.
Obinna described the GSP experience as fulfilling a long-held aspiration to work with the UN and highlighted the programme's practical value, providing an in-person insight into how the UN operates beyond academic knowledge. He emphasized the programme's dual benefit of broadening his knowledge and offering a platform to influence the future trajectory of technology ethics globally.
The Fritz Family Fellowship funded Obinna's participation in the U.N. Graduate Study Programme in Geneva. His experiences collaborating with international scholars this summer have added a new dimension to his work by urging him to consider the worldwide effects of rapid technological advancement across sectors.
Obinna has also participated in Georgetown's security-focused CS SecLab and collaborates with Assistant Professor Elissa Redmiles, his Ph.D. mentor. He believes that as technologists, it's important to choose the things they want to be a part of and speak up if something should be done differently. He left the programme hoping to use his research as a tool to contribute to the greater good and hopes to work with the intergovernmental organization one day.
In summary, the Graduate Study Programme at the UN in Geneva offers graduate students an immersive experience in diplomacy and international affairs, enabling participants like Wisdom Obinna to engage in meaningful multidisciplinary discussions—particularly on the ethics of cutting-edge technologies—while gaining firsthand insights into UN operations and building international collaborative networks.
- Wisdom Obinna's doctoral research focuses on AI's impact on artists' creative agency, complemented by his previous experience in a fellowship on ethical technology.
- During the UN Graduate Study Programme, Obinna collaborated with international scholars and worked on a group to formulate recommendations for the ethical use of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
- In addition to his academic pursuits, Obinna hopes to use his research as a tool to contribute to the greater good and potentially work with the intergovernmental organization one day.
- The Fritz Family Fellowship funded Obinna's participation in the UN Graduate Study Programme, exposing him to unique opportunities for education and self-development, career advancement, and personal growth in the fields of technology, artificial intelligence, education, diplomacy, and international affairs.
