Page 120 - AI Standards for Global Impact: From Governance to Action

AI Standards for Global Impact: From Governance to Action

Part 3: Future AI standards

for frontier technologies

19 AI and virtual worlds: Building the cities and governments of

tomorrow

AI and virtual worlds are redefining governance, infrastructure, and public services. The summit's
workshop on the topic welcomed representatives of governments, cities, and international
organizations to align national and local strategies with global priorities outlined by the Pact
for the Future and its Global Digital Compact. The message was clear: AI-powered virtual
worlds must serve the public good and should be anchored in shared values and supported
by international standards. The event also highlighted the growing global backing for the
Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI-Discovering the Citiverse. Launched by ITU, the UN
International Computing Centre (UNICC), and Digital Dubai, the initiative is now supported
by over 60 partners and serving as a springboard for collaborative policymaking, innovation
exchange, and standardization efforts aligned with the Pact for the Future and its Global Digital
Compact. In addition, the event invited all stakeholders to the 3rd UN Virtual Worlds Day, set
for 11–12 May 2026, to celebrate impact, share results, and align global efforts.

19�1 Virtual worlds, metaverse and citiverse – need for standards

The ITU Focus Group on Metaverse laid the groundwork for new ITU standards for virtual worlds.
The "citiverse" concept, a key area of study for the focus group, leverages a combination of
immersive, intelligent, and interconnected digital technologies to support cities in adopting a
human-centred approach and advancing sustainable development. It is designed specifically for
urban contexts, enabling the creation of interconnected digital twins of cities, where inhabitants,
businesses, and governments can collaborate to address complex urban challenges and
build more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities. The citiverse could offer new
administrative, economic, social, cultural, and policy-making capabilities, providing virtual goods,
services, and participatory tools to city and community actors – such as citizens (represented as
digital avatars), local authorities, service providers, and civil society organizations.
Such AI-powered virtual worlds must be built on a foundation of trust, inclusion, and
interoperability. ITU-T Study Group 20 (IoT, digital twins and smart cities) serves as ITU's lead
expert group for the development of international standards for the citiverse.

The Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds and AI – Discovering the Citiverse is a global multistakeholder
platform to foster open, interoperable, and human-centric virtual worlds through three strategic
pillars: Guidance, implementation, and global governance.

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