The United Nations is set to convene the inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva on July 6 and 7, bringing together governments, international organisations, industry leaders, academics and civil society representatives to shape a more inclusive global framework for artificial intelligence (AI) governance.

Established by the UN General Assembly under the Global Digital Compact, the Dialogue is designed to serve as the United Nations' primary platform for international cooperation on AI governance. The initiative aims to ensure that every country—regardless of its level of technological advancement—has an opportunity to participate in discussions on the future of artificial intelligence.

The two-day meeting will focus on balancing AI's transformative potential with the challenges it poses to societies, economies and global security. Delegates are expected to exchange best practices, promote international cooperation and explore policy approaches for the responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.

The event will feature participation from senior UN officials, including United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock, along with government representatives from across the world. The Dialogue will also include leading voices from the private sector, academia and civil society.

According to the UN, discussions will centre on four major thematic areas. These include understanding AI's social, economic, ethical and cultural implications; bridging global AI divides through capacity-building and digital infrastructure; promoting safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems; and ensuring transparency, accountability, human oversight and respect for human rights in AI governance.

A key objective of the Dialogue is to support developing countries by improving access to AI technologies, strengthening digital infrastructure and promoting international collaboration on open-source AI models and technical capacity building.

The Global Dialogue also seeks to complement existing international AI initiatives by providing a universal platform where governments can work towards interoperable and compatible approaches to AI regulation without duplicating ongoing efforts.

The first session in Geneva will be followed by a second Global Dialogue on AI Governance scheduled to take place in New York in May 2027, continuing the UN's efforts to establish long-term international cooperation on artificial intelligence.

The initiative stems from commitments made under the Global Digital Compact, adopted during the 2024 Summit of the Future, which called for a coordinated global approach to ensure AI technologies are developed and used responsibly, safely and for the benefit of all nations.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, economies and public services worldwide, the UN says the Dialogue represents a significant step towards building a transparent, inclusive and globally coordinated governance framework capable of addressing both the opportunities and risks presented by rapidly evolving AI technologies.