New york: The explosive growth of AI tools around the world has yet to be matched by effective, internationally agreed rules on how this powerful technology is governed. A high-profile event at UN Headquarters on Thursday brought effective global AI governance a step closer to reality.
According to Emirates News Agency, the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence are global, necessitating far more comprehensive responses than the fragmented and siloed solutions that have been enacted thus far. A UN report from 2024 found that 118 countries were not parties to any of the significant international AI governance initiatives created in recent years, with only seven nations, all from the developed world, being parties to all of the initiatives.
The high-level General Assembly meeting on AI governance, held on Thursday, marked the first time that all 193 Member States of the UN had a say in the development of international AI governance. This event sought to address the lack of representation by gathering diplomats, scientists, members of the tech community, private sector, and civil society from around the world.
The meeting focused on two new landmark bodies designed to initiate a more inclusive form of international governance, address issues surrounding AI technology, and ensure its benefits reach all people: the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. Both bodies emerged from recommendations made by the High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence in a 2024 UN report and were established through a UN General Assembly resolution in August 2025.
The purpose of Thursday's Dialogue was to share best practices, enhance the international interoperability of AI governance, and discuss significant AI incidents. The forum is expected to become the world's principal venue for collective focus on AI, aiming to create a shared space for governments, industry, civil society, and scientists to exchange best practices and foster common approaches.
The International Panel, with support from the UN system, will provide impartial, evidence-based guidance on AI's risks, opportunities, and impacts, helping to ensure that policymaking is grounded in independent scientific assessments. The Panel will produce an annual report to be presented at the annual meeting of the Dialogue.
Amandeep Singh Gill, the UN Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, emphasized the importance of these new global mechanisms, stating, "They are building blocks of a new architecture of technology governance. They are our promise to future generations to ensure that humanity remains at the center of technological progress." Gill highlighted the groundbreaking nature of the High-Level event, noting that through the Global Dialogue, all 193 member countries of the UN will have a seat at the table in shaping international cooperation on AI governance.