The report emphasizes the transformative potential of AI across various sectors, such as healthcare, public safety, energy, and agriculture, highlighting its ability to contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, it also warns that without adequate governance, the deployment of AI could deepen existing global inequalities and concentrate wealth and power within a few states, corporations, and individuals. The Advisory Body asserts that global governance of AI is not just a regulatory necessity but a moral imperative, given AI’s capacity to influence societies in ways that extend beyond national boundaries.

Central to the report’s analysis is the notion that AI, as a suite of technologies that operate across borders and sectors, demands a governance approach that transcends traditional national regulatory frameworks. It argues that AI’s inherently transboundary nature, combined with its capacity to upend industries, pose new challenges to existing governance models. These challenges include risks associated with AI bias, misuse for disinformation, potential disruptions to labor markets, and the development of autonomous weapons. The report identifies a pressing need for international cooperation to establish norms and standards that are inclusive, representative, and geared toward both maximizing the benefits and mitigating the risks of AI.

The report outlines seven key recommendations aimed at creating a holistic global AI governance framework. One of the core proposals is the establishment of an international scientific panel on AI, modeled after successful bodies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This panel would provide a global platform for sharing scientific knowledge and research findings on AI technologies, thereby creating a foundation for evidence-based policy-making. The report also calls for the creation of an AI standards exchange, where representatives from national and international standard-development organizations, technology companies, and civil society can collaborate to harmonize AI standards globally.

To support countries with limited resources, the Advisory Body proposes a capacity development network that would link various United Nations-affiliated capacity centers to provide expertise, computational resources, and training data. The aim is to empower countries and communities that are currently underrepresented in the AI ecosystem, enabling them to harness AI’s potential for local public interest use cases. The report also recommends the establishment of a global fund for AI, which would provide financial and in-kind contributions to address capacity gaps and ensure that AI’s benefits are shared more equitably.

The report further highlights the need for a global AI data framework to promote data stewardship, interoperability, and fair compensation for data subjects. Such a framework, developed through international collaboration, would help address the “missing data” problem in the Global South, where data scarcity limits the development of culturally and linguistically inclusive AI models. The proposed framework would establish common principles and standards for the governance of AI training data, encouraging the responsible collection, use, and exchange of data to support sustainable development.

A key recommendation is the creation of an AI office within the United Nations Secretariat to act as a coordination hub for these various initiatives. This office would support the proposed scientific panel, standards exchange, capacity development network, global fund, and data framework, while also advising the Secretary-General on emerging AI issues. The office’s mandate would include engaging with stakeholders from academia, industry, and civil society to foster a networked and adaptive approach to AI governance. The Advisory Body sees this office as a crucial enabler of coherence within the United Nations system, allowing for a unified voice on AI-related matters.

Throughout the report, the Advisory Body emphasizes the importance of inclusive and representative governance, pointing out that current AI governance efforts have largely excluded countries from the Global South. The report provides a sobering analysis of how AI governance regimes are dominated by a small group of countries, leaving many regions underrepresented in critical conversations that will shape the future of AI. It advocates for a more equitable distribution of power and resources in global AI governance, stressing that the voices of marginalized communities must be incorporated into decision-making processes.

Looking toward the future, the report envisions a world where AI is governed in a manner that fosters innovation and development while safeguarding human rights and promoting international stability. The Advisory Body acknowledges the potential of AI to accelerate progress on the SDGs but warns that without a robust governance framework, AI could also exacerbate existing global challenges, such as inequality, unemployment, and geopolitical tensions. The report concludes by calling for a new social contract for AI, one that ensures that the technology’s benefits are widely shared and its risks are managed responsibly.

In essence, “Governing AI for Humanity” is both a call to action and a roadmap for the future. It outlines a vision for global AI governance that is inclusive, collaborative, and aligned with the broader goals of sustainable development and human rights. By proposing concrete institutional models and mechanisms, the report aims to move beyond discussions of ethical principles and establish a practical framework for ensuring that AI serves humanity’s best interests. The Advisory Body’s recommendations reflect a deep understanding of the complexities of AI governance and a commitment to fostering a global environment where AI can be leveraged for the common good, leaving no one behind.