UN Opens Historic Debate on Global AI Governance

The UN General Assembly convened on Thursday for its first high-level meeting on artificial intelligence, aiming to put all 193 Member States at the centre of shaping global AI rules.

Until now, international efforts have been fragmented. A 2024 UN report found that 118 countries were not part of any major AI governance initiatives, and only seven — all developed nations — participated in all existing frameworks. The event brought together diplomats, scientists, the tech industry, civil society and the private sector to push for more inclusive global cooperation.

Two new UN bodies were launched to guide this process: the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. Established by a General Assembly resolution in August 2025, the bodies are designed to share best practices, improve interoperability of AI rules, report on major AI incidents, and provide impartial scientific advice on risks and opportunities.

“These mechanisms are building blocks of a new architecture for technology governance,” said Amandeep Singh Gill, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Digital and Emerging Technologies. “AI’s impact is global, but its governance is not. For the first time, all 193 countries will have a seat at the table.”

The International Panel will publish an annual report to guide the Dialogue’s work, ensuring that policymaking is grounded in evidence. UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed the new bodies as a “significant step forward” in balancing AI’s benefits with its risks.

Speakers at the event included General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco, and the Secretary-General, followed by statements from Member States, UN entities and civil society.

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