July in Geneva brings critical global AI conversations

“Artificial intelligence (AI) first grabbed large-scale global attention just three and a half years ago, with generative models sparking fears of AI domination and widespread human job displacement. Since then, AI’s advance has accelerated, with new models and applications emerging faster than policymakers anywhere can keep up. While some countries are racing ahead, many others struggle to adjust to the new AI-influenced social and economic realities. This is exactly the kind of global challenge that calls for exchanges at the United Nations level. UN-mandated dialogue coming up In July, the UN is bringing together governments, industry, academia, civil society and international organizations for the first UN General Assembly-mandated Global Dialogue on AI Governance . “AI, as you know, is moving and advancing so rapidly,” says Egriselda Lopez, Permanent Representative of El Salvador to the UN in New York and Global Dialogue Co-Chair. “And yet there are so many countries that are lagging behind and still don’t know how to make good use of AI.” Fellow Co-Chair Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN in New York, adds: “The global AI landscape is very, very fragmented.” While numerous governance-related discussions are happening, “there is no place where all this would come together” without the UN’s global reach, Tammsaar says, envisioning the upcoming AI event as a “Dialogue of the dialogues.” AI dialogue opens Geneva’s Digital Week The Global Dialogue is supported by a joint secretariat comprising the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the UN’s Office of Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET), with ITU and UNESCO serving as coordinating entities. The AI dialogue on 6-7 July forms part of a comprehensive Digital Week in Geneva, a European UN hub, back-to-back with the annual AI for Good Global Summit and WSIS Forum organized by ITU . What the dialogue is about The Global Dialogue is set to highlight four main thematic clusters: AI opportunities and impacts , examining the societal, cultural, economic and technical implications of AI. Capacity‑building and bridging AI divides , focusing on access, skills, digital foundations and support for developing countries. Safe, secure and trustworthy AI , including responsible development and the interoperability of governance approaches. Human rights and human oversight , addressing transparency, accountability and the role of human judgement in AI systems. Practical safeguards for humanity Inevitably, technology development and human well-being questions intersect. Alongside potential productivity gains for businesses, AI can help address some of humanity’s greatest challenges, such as healthcare, disease control, climate monitoring and financial inclusion. But human oversight remains paramount. “Whatever technical solutions we design, at the end there needs to be a human behind who would say a last word,” says Tammsaar. The two-day dialogue will tackle practical options rather than abstract debate, aiming to ensure “nothing would be left out,” he adds. “A genuine dialogue” in the multi-stakeholder format offers a rare chance “to come together and have meaningful exchange” on the AI future. Why the dialogue matters The action-oriented discussions are intended to reflect the priorities of all countries, not just those with advanced AI ecosystems. Mandated by the UN General Assembly, the dialogue is framed as a milestone in implementing the Global Digital Compact, an agreement adopted by all UN Member States in 2024 that includes shared commitments on digital cooperation. United Nations facilitation, Lopez says, provides “this inclusive platform where member states can come together, share experiences, lessons learned, what is working, what is not, what should be done.” Conversations at the Global Dialogue will be informed by the preliminary report of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI , formed under the same UN resolution. Synergies with ITU initiatives Much of the Global Dialogue agenda relates to ITU’s work as the UN agency for digital technologies, helping countries build the knowledge, skills, standards and practical experience needed to harness AI for sustainable development. The AI for Good Global Summit – held annually by ITU since 2017 – involves 50+ partners across the UN system and is co-convened by the Swiss Federation. It features in-depth talks and hands-on technology demonstrations showing how AI can accelerate sustainable development for the good of all. The WSIS Forum – building on the World Summit of the Information Society first held in Geneva in 2003 – comes with a renewed UN mandate to drive people-centred digital cooperation for the AI age and beyond. Lopez highlights the unique “opportunity to engage in these three meaningful events” in one week in Geneva, Switzerland’s most international city and a UN humanitarian and innovation hub. ITU’s year-round engagement with technology policymakers, companies, experts and academia further link discussions with real‑world solutions, standards and skills. ITU builds on its more than 1000 company and academia members as well as a technical community of over 20,000 professionals. Many of them are engaged in setting standards, including over 100 yearly on AI. Dedicated days during the last two AI for Good summits addressed the shift from theory to practice in AI policy making . ITU also hosts the UN AI Resource Hub , a portal to AI-related information and nearly 1000 projects across the UN system. ITU works with other UN agencies on responsible AI initiatives ranging from agriculture and autonomous driving to virtual worlds. Reinvigorated multilateralism Alongside the growing need for AI policies and strategies, the dialogue highlights the enduring value of multilateral cooperation. Governments alone cannot deliver effective AI governance, Lopez stresses. “They cannot do it by themselves. They need to have this important conversation with other important stakeholders already working on AI.” “Forward‑looking discussions will set the basis for the future work of the UN in this important area,” she says. The Global Dialogue will reconvene for a further episode in New York in May 2027. Play the ITU Technologized podcast with the AI Dialogue Co-Chairs Play the ITU Secretary-General’s video: How can #AI serve all of humanity? Find out more and register for the AI Dialogue The post July in Geneva brings critical global AI conversations appeared first on ITU .

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