UN AI Governance: The Global Dialogue and Scientific Panel
Key facts
- The Global Dialogue on AI Governance is a UN platform for discussion on AI governance, bringing together all UN Member States alongside civil society, the private sector, academia, and the technical community to discuss international cooperation, share best practices, and support transparent and inclusive debate on AI governance.
- It was established by UNGA Resolution A/RES/79/325, adopted by consensus on 26 August 2025, implementing a commitment in the Global Digital Compact (GDC), adopted in September 2024 as part of the Pact for the Future.
- The Dialogue is a discussion forum. Its outputs take the form of co-chair summaries and inputs into wider UN follow-up processes. It is supported by a joint secretariat of ITU, UNESCO, ODET, and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General.
- The Independent International Scientific Panel on AI was established by the same resolution — A/RES/79/325, adopted by consensus on 26 August 2025 — to provide independent, evidence-based assessments of AI’s opportunities, risks, and impacts to inform international deliberations.
- The Panel comprises 40 independent experts selecteYesd through a UN process and approved in 2026. It presents annual assessment reports at each Dialogue session, intended to be accessible to all countries.
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Why it matters
AI is developing rapidly, bringing significant opportunities alongside serious concerns for the exercise of human rights. Existing governance frameworks — developed through bodies such as the G7, G20, OECD, and Council of Europe — apply only to small groupings of states, creating a critical accountability gap. Populations in the Global South are among those most exposed to AI-related harms while having had the least influence over the frameworks that affect them.
The Global Dialogue and the Scientific Panel matter because they provide a universal platform under UN General Assembly authority where all Member States — and, to a more limited extent, non-governmental stakeholders — can participate in AI governance discussions and draw on independent scientific evidence to inform them.
The Dialogue’s mandate covers issues of direct relevance to human rights, including transparency, accountability, and human oversight of AI systems; non-discrimination; and equitable access to AI’s benefits — particularly for countries and communities currently left behind in AI development.
The Dialogue is a key link in GDC implementation. Its outputs will feed into GDC follow-up processes, including the high-level review expected at UNGA’s 82nd session in 2027, and intersect with a range of other UN processes including WSIS, CSTD, and the STI Forum.
Civil society engagement is essential to push for outcomes that are grounded in human rights, that centre the needs of the most affected populations, and that ensure the Dialogue and Panel deliver meaningful impact rather than process for its own sake.
How it works
The Global Dialogue is convened under the authority of the UN General Assembly. It is a discussion forum and will not produce binding outputs. A summary of discussions is produced by the co-chair’s of each dialogue, however this is not negotiated which reduces its political weight.
The Dialogue is structured around four thematic clusters, drawn from the seven areas mandated in Resolution A/RES/79/325:
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- Cluster 1: AI opportunities and implications — social, economic, ethical, cultural, linguistic, and technical dimensions of AI (corresponds to Article 4(c) of A/RES/79/325).
- Cluster 2: Bridging AI divides — capacity-building, access to AI applications, digital foundations, and open-source AI (Articles 4(b) and 4(g)).
- Cluster 3: Safe, secure and trustworthy AI — and the interoperability and compatibility of AI governance approaches (Articles 4(a) and 4(d)).
- Cluster 4: Human rights, transparency, accountability, and human oversight — of AI systems, in a manner compliant with international law (Articles 4(e) and 4(f)).
All UN Member States are invited to participate. Civil society, the private sector, academia, and the technical community may also participate, subject to registration arrangements for each session.
The Independent International Scientific Panel on AI presents its annual assessment at each Dialogue session. The Panel’s reports are intended to be accessible to all countries and to inform deliberations on all four thematic clusters.
How to engage
Register to participate: All governments and stakeholders are invited to participate. Check the official Dialogue website (un.org/global-dialogue-ai-governance) for registration details, eligibility, and deadlines for each session — these may vary. Do not assume that participation in one session guarantees participation in subsequent sessions.
Submit written inputs: For the 2026 session, a written submission portal was open ahead of the meeting. Check whether submission portals are open for future sessions via the official website. Submissions are an important entry point for organisations that cannot attend in person.
Participate in regional consultations or preparatory meetings: Check whether regional consultations or preparatory exchanges are being organised ahead of future sessions. These can be important for shaping the Dialogue’s themes and structure.
Engage national delegations: Governments participate through their UN Missions. Civil society can share analysis, raise human rights concerns, and encourage delegations to take strong positions on transparency, accountability, and equitable AI governance — including for the Global South.
Monitor the Scientific Panel: The Panel’s annual assessments aim to provide independent, evidence-based analysis accessible to all countries. Engaging with the Panel’s reports, responding to them publicly, and drawing on them in advocacy can strengthen civil society positions.
Subscribe for updates: Join the Dialogue’s mailing list via the official website. Follow communications from ITU, UNESCO, and the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET) for updates on preparatory processes and session details.
Coalition-building: Work with other civil society organisations active on AI governance, GDC implementation, WSIS, and related processes. Coordinated positions and joint submissions carry greater weight.
Check official sources before planning engagement: Because modalities and meeting arrangements may change, stakeholders should check the official UN page before planning any engagement.