The United Nations secretary-general António Guterres sent a written message of support to this week’s World Internet of Things Convention in Beijing.

“Digital technology has transformed every aspect of our lives,” he said. “It is also an increasingly powerful engine of business and economic growth. Real-time data sharing, IoT applications, information networking and artificial intelligence are enabling the development of smart grids, smart homes and smart cities. Across various sectors, including transportation, agriculture, energy and healthcare, these technologies are improving quality of life, promoting sustainability and fostering more responsive services.”

But he said that not all countries or communities were benefitting equally.

“For those without capacity or connectivity, the digital divide is an opportunity divide,” he said. “Unleashing the potential of a new digital economy depends on a fully connected world. Last month, leaders adopted the Global Digital Compact to help close the divide and support efforts to ensure that communities and countries get the financial and technological assistance to expand connectivity to all people.”

On AI, he said: “We also made an essential breakthrough: the first truly universal agreement on governance giving every country a seat at the AI table. Digital technology is about bridging divides. Let’s ensure that these rapidly evolving technologies serve all people, equally.”

The convention (www.wiotc.org) was held from November 3 to 4 and Tom Coughlin, president and CEO of the IEEE (www.ieee.org), also addressed the event.

“We are witnessing rapid developments in technology such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology and more,” said Coughlin. “These innovations have tremendous potential for transforming industries, improving human health, and solving complex problems. But these technologies bring new challenges and uncertainties, such as ethical dilemmas and privacy concerns and create the need for foundational elements that ensure technology serves the broader societal goals of efficiency, safety and environmental responsibility.”

He said that standards were the unseen force behind today’s technological innovation and the growing circular economy.

“Standards enable technologies to work seamlessly together, ensuring that products and services are reliable, secure, safe, scalable and efficient.,” he said. “In the context of sustainability, standards are vitally important for several reasons. Emerging technologies produce new opportunities for improved energy efficiency, and support the transition to a more sustainable future, as energy availability and consumption are some of the most pressing challenges of our time.”

Standards, he said, were playing a pivotal role in redefining data centre resource use, providing the framework needed to make them more resource efficient and to optimise energy use, while providing required services.

“Standards also support the transition to the circular economy where products and materials are reused, refurbished and recycled,” he said. “Standards for e-waste management, recycling and material recovery ensure that valuable resources are reclaimed, reducing the strain on our environment. Standards play an important part in establishing a framework for equity and inclusion by developing design principles and guidelines for emerging technologies that, for instance, establish safeguards for age-appropriate access and online safety.”

Standards, he said, also created a level playing field for innovation.

“As we look to the future,” he said, “the role of standards will only grow in importance. Emerging technologies hold great potential for sustainable development. However, their responsible deployment hinges on the establishment of comprehensive standards that address ethical, environmental and social considerations. Standards are the invisible threads that weave together the fabric of our digital society, ensuring that technical advancements are aligned with a sustainable, inclusive, principled and prosperous future.”