GENEVA — Governments, technology companies, researchers and civil society representatives used the United Nations' inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance to press for broader international cooperation aimed at ensuring the benefits of artificial intelligence are shared more equitably, particularly with developing countries that have played a limited role in shaping global AI policy.
The two-day meeting, held on July 6 and 7 alongside the International Telecommunication Union's AI for Good Global Summit, marked the first formal session of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance established by the U.N. General Assembly under the Global Digital Compact. Organizers said the forum was created to provide an inclusive platform where all U.N. member states and stakeholders can discuss international AI governance, exchange best practices and address emerging risks.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said at the opening session that artificial intelligence was advancing rapidly and required collective governance to ensure it remained safe, accessible and aligned with human values. He said the dialogue sought to transform broad international participation into practical cooperation that would make AI "safer, fairer, more accessible and more ethical."
According to the United Nations, discussions focused on reducing the global AI divide, strengthening international cooperation, promoting accountability and transparency, and ensuring meaningful human oversight of AI systems consistent with international law. Delegates also examined ways to expand access to AI infrastructure, technical expertise and capacity-building for lower-income countries so they can participate more fully in the technology's economic and social benefits.
The dialogue brought together governments, private-sector companies, academic institutions and civil society organizations in what the U.N. described as a multistakeholder process designed to avoid concentrating AI governance decisions among only the most technologically advanced nations. The initiative stems from commitments adopted in the 2024 Global Digital Compact and is expected to feed into broader U.N. follow-up processes on digital cooperation.
The Geneva discussions took place amid increasing international efforts to shape AI governance. On July 16, 29 countries signed an agreement establishing the World AI Cooperation Organization, another multilateral initiative intended to promote international collaboration on artificial intelligence, underscoring growing global interest in coordinated AI oversight despite differing national approaches to regulation.
The United Nations has said the Global Dialogue on AI Governance will continue as a recurring forum to support implementation of the Global Digital Compact, with deliberations expected to inform future international discussions on AI governance and a high-level review scheduled for 2027.
