Developing Nations Push for Equal Say in Global AI Rules at UN Summit

Developing nations have demanded an equal role in shaping global artificial intelligence rules during United Nations summit discussions, warning that poor governance could widen global inequalities.

Leaders Speak Out

Leaders from Africa, Asia and Latin America voiced strong concerns at last week's UN diplomacy festival in New York following recent safety breaches and warnings from top researchers. Democratic Republic of the Congo Foreign Minister Thérès Kayikwamba Wagner stated that developing countries should not be reduced to mere users or passive recipients of standards set elsewhere. The Security Council session also featured tech executives Sam Altman from OpenAI and Dario Amodei from Anthropic, who called for government cooperation.

Rising Attention

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman noted that while only five delegations raised AI four years ago, 128 delegations addressed the topic this year. Meanwhile, the World Bank reported last month that AI could grant developing nations a century of development in a decade if power, connectivity, and skills gaps are addressed. The International Monetary Fund also stated in July that AI could boost Sub-Saharan Africa's economy by about 4% over the next decade under proper conditions.

Diverging Views

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres compared AI risks to the climate crisis and called for developing nations to have an equal voice in both. In contrast, US President Donald Trump dismissed AI risks and climate change concerns as overblown, labeling them a hoax and a conspiracy. Belize Prime Minister John Briceño warned that well-governed AI can improve public services, but poorly governed AI risks displacing workers and exposing critical systems.

Context

Global technology summits serve as key diplomatic arenas where nations negotiate international standards for emerging innovations that cross national borders. Debates over artificial intelligence governance frequently mirror historical economic divides between industrialized and developing economies.