The United Nations has launched its first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance, bringing together governments, technology companies, academics, civil society organisations and technical experts in a bid to develop a more inclusive global framework for managing the rapidly evolving technology.
The inaugural dialogue, which opened in Geneva on Monday, seeks to ensure that decisions on AI governance are shaped by countries across all regions rather than being driven primarily by nations with advanced AI capabilities.
Speaking at the opening session,António Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general,warned that the pace of AI development has outstripped existing governance efforts, making international cooperation increasingly urgent.
“AI is advancing at runaway speed. The question is whether we will govern it together or let it govern us. For the first time, the AI Dialogue gives every country a seat at the table. We must now turn global participation into global action to make AI safer, fairer, more accessible and more ethical,” he said.
The dialogue will examine a broad range of issues surrounding artificial intelligence, including strategies for bridging the global AI divide, strengthening international cooperation on AI governance, ensuring meaningful human oversight of AI systems and promoting the safe and responsible deployment of the technology in line with international law.
Annalena Baerbock, president of the UN General Assembly, said the initiative extends beyond regulating emerging technology, describing it as an opportunity to establish a shared global vision in which technological progress supports human dignity, equity and sustainable development.
According to her, responsible governance of AI could accelerate progress across several Sustainable Development Goals by expanding opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, education, scientific research, disaster preparedness and agriculture.
She also said the initiative demonstrates the UN’s ability to respond to rapidly emerging global challenges.
The dialogue comes at a time when AI governance remains fragmented, with regulatory frameworks, technical standards and policy initiatives largely developed by countries that have built strong AI ecosystems, while many developing nations have had limited influence over global policy discussions despite being increasingly affected by the technology.
Unlike previous initiatives, the new UN platform gives every member state an equal opportunity to contribute to discussions on the future of AI governance.
Egriselda López, co-chair of the dialogue and permanent representative of El Salvador to the United Nations, said the credibility of the initiative rests on its inclusive and participatory approach, adding that every country’s experience and perspective will help shape future AI governance.
Her co-chair and Estonia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Rein Tammsaar, said the international community should work towards making artificial intelligence a global public good while embedding safety and meaningful human oversight into AI systems from the outset.
Preparations for the inaugural dialogue included six months of consultations involving governments, academia, the private sector, civil society and technical experts. Since January 2026, the UN said it has received more than 1,500 written submissions from stakeholders across different regions of the world.
The consultations revealed differing priorities among participants. While governments ranked capacity building as their highest priority, most other stakeholder groups identified AI safety as their primary concern. Transparency, accountability, human oversight and the technology’s social, economic, ethical, cultural and linguistic implications also featured prominently among the issues raised.
The UN said more than 500 submissions called for the dialogue to continue beyond its inaugural session, reflecting broad support for a permanent international platform on AI governance.
The meeting also follows the release last week of a preliminary report by the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, which warned that existing governance mechanisms and safety measures are struggling to keep pace with the rapid advancement of AI technologies.
Doreen Bogdan-Martin,secretary-
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