Page 13 - AI Governance Day - From Principles to Implementation

AI Governance Day - From Principles to Implementation

We hope that the discussions and new connections formed will assist in moving AI governance
forward from principles to implementation. We are looking forward to welcoming you at the
next AI for Good Global Summit (including AI Governance Day) in Geneva in the week of
7-11 July 2025.

1� Foreword by Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General

It was a tremendous pleasure to welcome a mullti-stakeholder group of senior leaders from
governments, the private sector, international organizations, academia, the technical community,
and civil society to the AI for Good Global Summit on 30-31 May 2024 and to AI Governance
Day on 29 May 2024. This inclusivity was at the heart of our mission at the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) to create a neutral, global platform for artificial intelligence.
AI Governance Day marks a truly global multistakeholder dialogue on AI governance, a topic
that had gained significant importance over the past 12 months.

Discussions during AI Governance Day focused on three themes: the AI regulatory landscape,
implementing AI governance frameworks, and ensuring inclusion and trust in these frameworks.
The invitation-only morning sessions involved surveying the AI landscape to understand the
current state of regulations and identify areas of common interest. An ITU survey revealed that
85% of our responding Member States had not yet established AI regulations, highlighting the
urgent need for guidance and collaboration to avoid fragmented governance.

We also had a report from the United Nations High-Level Advisory Body on AI, with a live
connection to co-chairs of the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Body from their
final in-person meeting in Singapore.

Discussions at AI Governance Day and at the AI for Good Global Summit set the stage for
developing actionable, enforceable technical standards, essential for ensuring algorithm
transparency, system safety, and security. The ITU had already published or was developing
over 200 AI-related standards, but more are needed. Collaboration through mechanisms
like the World Standards Cooperation, involving leaders from ISO and IEC, has been vital for
advancing these standards globally.

Inclusion and trust are deeply interconnected and crucial for successful AI governance. Without
trust, the adoption of AI would falter, potentially exacerbating digital divides. A survey by BCG
highlighted that consumers in low and middle-income countries were more enthusiastic about
AI than those in mature markets, viewing it as a means to leapfrog technological gaps and drive
innovation in critical sectors like education and healthcare.

Reflecting on lessons from the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), we recognized
the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to governance. The WSIS process showed that
governance could be iterative and inclusive, accommodating diverse perspectives and needs.
This approach was deemed equally necessary for AI governance, ensuring that power was not
concentrated in the hands of a few and that all stakeholders had a voice.

Our focus on human rights, inclusion, and capacity building was emphasized as paramount. It
was essential that AI governance frameworks reflected core UN values and addressed the needs
of all countries. The ITU's initiatives, in collaboration with UNDP and other partners, aimed to

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