The UN Gets Involved in AI Governance: Here’s What It’s Doing
The last United Nations General Assembly, held in New York at the end of September 2025, marked a significant turning point in the regulation of artificial intelligence. The UN’s response to the growing social implications of AI has resulted in the establishment of two new bodies: the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI.
Objectives of the New Bodies
The primary aim of these organizations is to create an architecture for more inclusive governance of algorithmic technologies. The Global Dialogue on AI Governance serves as a forum where governments, industry, civil society, and the scientific community can collaborate. This collaboration is essential for exchanging practices, defining common standards, and promoting interoperability between different regulatory models. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of safe and reliable AI systems.
Addressing the Governance Gap
A critical issue identified is the regulatory fragmentation in AI governance. Currently, 118 countries remain on the sidelines of significant international discussions on this topic, as noted in a UN report. The rapid pace of developing algorithm-based tools and large language models (LLMs) is outstripping the establishment of appropriate rules. Consequently, there is an urgent need to bridge this gap to ensure responsible AI innovation.
The Role of the World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Accenture, has released a report titled ‘Advancing Responsible AI Innovation: A Playbook’. This report emphasizes that the availability of reliable AI ecosystems is crucial for effective AI development.
Governing AI involves not just creating regulations but also formulating an execution plan to implement these rules in economic and industrial contexts. In this regard, the AI Governance Alliance has been established by the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This alliance brings together governments, businesses, academia, and civil society to foster responsible practices concerning AI.
Future Directions
As highlighted in the report, stakeholders should perceive AI—when reliable and controlled throughout its application cycle—not as a hindrance but as an engine of scale. This approach is contingent upon aligning business strategies with technology-driven innovation and enhancing internal organizational capabilities for effective governance.
The recent developments suggest an evolving landscape in AI governance, where collaborative efforts among diverse sectors are essential for creating a responsible and sustainable AI future.
