By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
United Nations Tech Envoy
Amandeep Gill has called for stronger international cooperation on artificial
intelligence (AI) governance, emphasizing that the challenges and opportunities
presented by AI extend far beyond national borders and cannot be effectively
addressed by individual countries acting alone.
Speaking at the High-Level
Meeting on Global AI Governance during the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) in
Shanghai, Gill said the global conversation on AI should focus not only on
regulation but also on development, equity and trust.
"The stakes of AI
governance reach far beyond regulation. It's about development. It's about
equity. It's about trust," Gill said during his address.
He noted that AI systems,
data flows, supply chains, investment and the societal impacts of the
technology increasingly transcend national boundaries, making international
collaboration essential for ensuring that AI benefits are shared broadly while
minimizing associated risks.
According to Gill, the path
toward effective AI governance rests on three interconnected pillars: science,
policy and capacity. He said these elements must be supported by practical
cooperation aimed at bridging disparities in digital infrastructure, access to
computing resources and technical capabilities across countries.
The UN Tech Envoy
highlighted the importance of building inclusive governance frameworks that
enable countries at different stages of technological development to
participate meaningfully in shaping the future of AI.
Gill also referenced the
inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance held recently in Geneva, describing
it as a significant step toward fostering international consensus on
responsible AI development and governance.
The Geneva dialogue brought
together representatives from more than 160 countries and over 3,000
stakeholders, including governments, international organizations, the private
sector, academia and civil society, to explore common approaches to AI governance
and strengthen international cooperation.
