United Nations Launches Initiative for AI Governance Amid Urgent Global Concerns
The United Nations has inaugurated a landmark initiative focused on the governance of artificial intelligence (AI), addressing growing concerns regarding safety, ethics, and accountability, reports 24brussels.
This week, world leaders and diplomats convened in New York for high-level meetings to discuss AI as one of the pressing global challenges. Since the introduction of ChatGPT nearly three years ago, the explosive growth of AI technology has raised alarms among experts regarding potential risks, including engineered pandemics and large-scale disinformation efforts. Previous international conferences on AI, hosted by countries like Britain, South Korea, and France, have thus far resulted in non-binding commitments.
In a significant development, the U.N. General Assembly recently adopted a resolution establishing two new bodies to oversee AI: a Global Forum and an independent panel of scientific experts. This move lays the groundwork for what is the most formal multilateral effort to date aimed at creating a comprehensive framework for AI regulation.
On Wednesday, the U.N. Security Council will hold an open debate dedicated to AI governance, questioning how the Council can help guarantee that AI applications adhere to international law and assist in peacekeeping and conflict prevention efforts. The following day, Secretary-General António Guterres will launch the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, aimed at facilitating discussions among governments and stakeholders on best practices and solutions. The Forum is set to convene in Geneva in 2026 and in New York in 2027.
Recruitment is underway for 40 members of the scientific panel, including two co-chairs representing both developed and developing nations. This initiative parallels the structure of the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and its annual COP meetings.
Isabella Wilkinson, a research fellow at Chatham House, characterized the initiative as a “symbolic triumph,” while expressing skepticism about its practical power, noting concerns that the U.N.’s pace may not keep up with AI advancements.
Prior to the assembly, a coalition of experts—including senior figures from OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic—advocated for governments to establish “red lines” for AI by the end of next year. Their call emphasizes the need for enforceable guardrails to mitigate pressing risks, akin to international treaties that ban nuclear testing and biological weapons.
“The idea is very simple,” stated Stuart Russell, an AI professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He proposed that, akin to the regulations for medicines and nuclear power, developers should be required to demonstrate safety before gaining market access. He suggested a “framework convention” that would adapt to the quickening pace of AI innovation, with a model similar to the International Civil Aviation Organization to ensure global alignment and standards.
The inclusion of AI in the U.N. agenda signifies a pivotal move toward defining global governance. However, doubts remain about whether the agreed-upon mechanisms can effectively oversee the technology before its risks surpass regulatory capabilities.
