UN Launches Push for Global Framework on AI Power and Control
The United Nations is launching a major initiative to guide the future of artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly and fairly. With AI spreading faster than ever, from self-driving cars and robots to language models and facial recognition, the UN wants to make sure its benefits reach everyone, not just a few countries or companies.
AI promises incredible opportunities: better healthcare diagnostics, smarter agriculture, personalised education, and more effective humanitarian responses. But without safeguards, it could also widen inequalities, invade privacy, or even influence global politics.
How the UN Plans to Act
At the heart of this effort is a High-Level Advisory Body on AI, made up of up to 39 experts from around the world. Their job is to evaluate AI developments, identify gaps in governance, and propose strategies to make AI align with human rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes the following:
Improving healthcare (SDG 3)
Supporting sustainable agriculture and climate resilience (SDGs 2 & 15)
Expanding access to quality education (SDG 4)
The initiative also tackles risks like bias, misinformation, and privacy violations. It forms part of the Global Digital Compact, the UN’s roadmap for safe, equitable, and cooperative digital development.
A Global Dialogue on AI
Co-led by Costa Rica and Spain, the AI Panel and Dialogue aims to create an independent international scientific panel on AI and encourage global discussions about governance. The goal is to combine scientific expertise with a human-rights-first approach, complementing existing platforms like the Internet Governance Forum.
AI is reshaping economies, societies, and industries at lightning speed. The UN’s initiative is a historic attempt to steer this transformation toward social good rather than concentrated power. By building a global framework, the UN hopes AI becomes a tool for innovation, development, and fairness, ensuring that its benefits are shared broadly and responsibly.
The UN’s push for global AI governance signals that businesses will soon face more consistent expectations around transparency, fairness, and accountability. While not legally binding, the framework will influence how regions like the EU and others shape their own rules, meaning companies need to start preparing for global alignment.
Beyond compliance, businesses that show their AI tools are ethical and inclusive will gain an advantage, building trust with customers, investors, and regulators. At the same time, risks like bias, misinformation, and privacy breaches are becoming not just regulatory concerns but real business risks.
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