Governments, tech companies, academics and civil society will spend two days at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance debating how to regulate a technology that evolves faster than the rules meant to contain it.
When used responsibly, AI has the potential to bring transformative benefits to people around the world, but there are also concerns that the innovative technology is creating new dangers. And while it continues to evolve at a lightning pace, the safeguards needed to regulate it are struggling to keep up.
Maria Ressa, Yoshua Bengio, Egliselda López. (from left to right)
prior to the meeting united nations news We spoke to four of the participants. The two co-chairs of this dialogue and the two co-chairs of the United Nations’ Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, which just published a report on the opportunities and risks of AI.
They talked about the benefits as well as the risks associated with AI, and the need to agree on some form of global guardrails that are globally acceptable.
Joshua Bengio (Scientific Panel): AI approaches or exceeds human capabilities in many areas. It exceeds both scientific understanding and the ability of governments to adapt. There are amazing advances that are changing the world, and it doesn’t seem like they’re going to stop.
Estonian Ambassador Rein Tamsar addresses the Security Council. (file)
Ambassador Rein Tamsar of Estonia (Global Dialogue): For many countries around the world, AI could be a great equalizer. It can support economic development, improve competitiveness, and support science and health systems. Machine learning has the potential to improve productivity in general. This is a possibility.
Ambassador Egliselda López of El Salavador (Global Dialogue): AI can be a tool for governments to better operate and deliver services.
Rain Tamsar: AI is a tool that can benefit millions of people around the world. But at the same time, if it falls into the wrong hands, it can be used for coercive purposes: to undermine trust in governments, weaken the fabric of democracy, and to undermine propaganda and information integrity.
There are signs saying renounce hatred.
Maria Ressa (science panel): The first generation of AI was used in social media, which allowed lies to spread faster. When you mix fear, anger, and hate, it spreads virally. Information integrity is at the heart of the battle. Democracy cannot exist if we cannot distinguish between fact and fiction.
This is the dilemma we face, and why I call it “Information Armageddon.”
joshua benzio: With increasing evidence of AI’s deceptive behavior, science is currently saying that as AI’s capabilities continue to improve, do not have By itself or caused by a malicious user, it can cause devastating damage.
Rain Tamsar: Frontier developers are basically concentrated in two countries [US and China]. This leaves many questions for other countries.
Developing countries in particular are concerned that, in the worst-case scenario, they will be left behind by the AI gap. Its development is proceeding at a speed that we cannot recover from or catch up with.
Egliselda Lopez: AI disparity is real. Some countries have very strong infrastructure, strong skills and research capabilities. Meanwhile, some companies continue to struggle with issues such as connectivity and public infrastructure.
Two boys working with tablets in Tanzania.
Maria Ressa: The world cannot govern what it does not understand. The panel’s reports provide independent science drawn from all regions and available to all governments. The message is clear. The possibilities are great, but the risks are real and the costs of waiting are increasing.
joshua benzio: I would like more governments around the world to understand the future development scenario of AI. We don’t have the right national or international governance tools, and we don’t have a good way to guide them so that the benefits are shared by everyone. To act effectively, global policymakers need to understand these systems
Egliselda Lopez: Global Dialogue is the United Nations’ first platform to discuss AI governance. It is also an opportunity for Member States to come together for comprehensive discussions. But it is also important to bring together different stakeholders, not just governments.
Maria Ressa: No single country can actually cope with this technology alone. A multifaceted solution is needed. And the organization that was established to be able to do this is the United Nations. Now, the question is whether those member states will move.
UN and AI
The Independent International Scientific Committee on Artificial Intelligence is made up of 40 experts from around the world working in their private capacities. The panel released its first report on July 1st.
The panel’s work will feed into the United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance to be held in Geneva from July 6-7, 2026, where the international community will discuss international approaches to technology management.
