On July 18, 2026, UN technology envoy Amandeep Gill urged stronger international cooperation on AI governance at a high‑level meeting convened as part of the World AI Conference in Shanghai. Gill warned that the challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence cross national borders and cannot be addressed effectively by individual states acting alone.
Governance of AI: beyond regulation alone
Gill emphasized that AI governance must not be limited to regulatory instruments. “AI governance goes far beyond regulation. It’s about development. It’s about equity. It’s about trust,” he said, stressing that the global conversation must incorporate development, equity and trust. He cautioned against a fragmented response in the absence of coordinated international action.
Three pillars: science, policy and capacity
The UN envoy laid out a roadmap for effective governance built on three interdependent pillars: science, policy and capacity. He explained that these elements need to be backed by practical cooperation to close gaps in digital infrastructure, access to compute resources and technical capabilities between countries.
Practical cooperation to reduce disparities
Gill noted that AI systems, data flows, supply chains, investments and the societal impacts of the technology increasingly transcend national borders. That reality makes international cooperation essential to share the benefits of AI widely while minimizing risks—particularly by helping countries at different development stages gain access to necessary resources.
Building a global dialogue
He also referenced the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance recently held in Geneva, calling it an important step toward international consensus on responsible AI development and governance. For Gill, such dialogue spaces are necessary to build inclusive frameworks where all countries can participate meaningfully.
A call for collective action
By framing AI governance around science, policy and capacity, Amandeep Gill underscored the need for collective action: without strengthened international cooperation, disparities in access and cross‑border risks are likely to worsen, while the potential benefits of AI will remain unevenly distributed.
