Observatoire international sur les impacts spciétaux de l'IA et du numérique (Obvia)

A successful first Global Dialogue on AI Governance would be measured less by the number of declarations produced and more by the quality of the foundations it establishes for future international cooperation. First, success would mean fostering greater coherence across the rapidly evolving landscape of AI governance frameworks. Multiple national, regional, and sectoral initiatives are emerging simultaneously. While this diversity reflects legitimate societal priorities and cultural contexts, it also risks fragmentation. A key outcome of the Dialogue would therefore be to identify shared principles and areas of convergence that can help align these initiatives while respecting regional and cultural differences. Second, the Dialogue should contribute to strengthening multilateralism in the governance of emerging technologies. AI is inherently transnational, and no single country can effectively address its risks and opportunities alone. Reinforcing multilateral cooperation—through international organizations, collaborative policy processes, and inclusive dialogue—will be essential to ensure that governance frameworks remain legitimate, balanced, and globally relevant. Third, the Dialogue should reaffirm the central role of independent and trusted institutions in supporting evidence-based governance. In a field characterized by rapid technological change and strong geopolitical and commercial interests, credible and autonomous organizations—such as scientific institutions, universities, and international research bodies—are critical. They provide reliable expertise, transparent analysis, and neutral spaces for dialogue, helping policymakers navigate complex technical issues while maintaining public trust. Ultimately, the success of this first Dialogue would lie in its ability to strengthen trust, reinforce multilateral cooperation, and support independent knowledge institutions. By doing so, it would help ensure that global AI governance evolves in a way that is coherent, inclusive, and firmly grounded in the public interest.

• AI capacity-building
• Safe, secure and trustworthy AI

From our perspective, two thematic areas identified in the General Assembly Resolution 79/325 deserve particular attention: AI safety, security and trustworthy AI, and AI capacity-building. Both are essential to ensuring that artificial intelligence contributes to sustainable development, international stability, and inclusive global governance. First, strengthening AI safety, security, and trustworthiness is critical at a time when AI systems are rapidly being deployed across sensitive domains, including critical infrastructures, information ecosystems, and security environments. Particular attention should also be paid to the growing use of AI in military and conflict settings. The integration of AI into defense systems, cyber operations, and autonomous technologies raises important concerns regarding escalation risks, accountability, and the potential destabilization of international security. In this context, global discussions should place greater emphasis on the concept of digital peace-ensuring that emerging technologies are governed in ways that reduce risks of conflict and promote stability in the digital domain. Second, AI capacity-building remains an urgent priority. The global AI landscape is highly uneven, with significant disparities in access to infrastructure, expertise, data, and governance capabilities. Without targeted efforts to strengthen capacity, many countries risk being excluded from both the development and governance of AI technologies, which could deepen existing inequalities. Capacity-building initiatives-through education, research collaboration, knowledge sharing, and institutional strengthening-are therefore essential to enable broader and more meaningful participation in AI governance. Addressing these priorities together is key. Trustworthy and secure AI cannot be achieved without inclusive global participation, and capacity-building is fundamental to enabling that participation. By investing simultaneously in safety, security, and global capabilities, the international community can promote an AI ecosystem that supports innovation while also advancing stability, cooperation, and peace in the digital age.

While the themes identified provide a strong and comprehensive foundation for discussions on global AI governance, one important cross-cutting issue that deserves greater attention is the concept of digital peace. Digital peace should be considered a cross-cutting issue because it intersects with several of the existing themes. For example, safe, secure, and trustworthy AI cannot be achieved without addressing the risks associated with destabilizing or military uses of AI. Similarly, transparency, accountability, and human oversight are essential in contexts where AI systems may influence security decisions or operate in high-risk environments. The protection and promotion of human rights is also closely linked, particularly when AI technologies are used in surveillance, information warfare, or automated targeting. Promoting digital peace also requires stronger international cooperation, multilateral dialogue, and confidence-building among states and stakeholders. As AI technologies transcend national borders, their governance must rely on collaborative frameworks, shared norms, and trusted institutions capable of facilitating dialogue and reducing tensions. Strengthening cooperation between governments, academia, international organizations, and civil society will be essential to foster mutual understanding and responsible technological development.

Governance gaps in areas such as AI safety, security and trustworthy AI, as well as AI capacity-building, have significant implications for the academic, policy, and innovation ecosystems in which our organization operates. Rapid technological advances are outpacing the development of coherent governance frameworks, creating uncertainty for policymakers, researchers, and institutions seeking to promote responsible and secure uses of AI. Since its launch in 2019, our Observatory (Obvia) has been actively engaged in analyzing these challenges and contributing to international discussions on the governance of emerging technologies. Through research, policy dialogue, and collaborative initiatives, we aim to support evidence-based approaches that strengthen trust, transparency, and responsible innovation in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence. A key dimension of our work involves building bridges between academic research and policy discussions. In this regard, we collaborate closely with Korea University, particularly with the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy, on issues related to AI governance, digital security, and international cooperation. These collaborations help advance interdisciplinary dialogue and contribute to a better understanding of the technical, ethical, and geopolitical dimensions of AI. At the regional and international levels, governance gaps can also limit the ability of institutions and countries to fully participate in shaping global AI frameworks. This highlights the importance of strengthening capacity-building, knowledge exchange, and research partnerships, which are essential for enabling broader participation in AI governance discussions. Through our work and partnerships, we seek to contribute to advancing informed dialogue, fostering international cooperation, and supporting governance approaches that promote both innovation and responsible use of AI technologies. Strengthening collaboration between research institutions, policymakers, and international partners will be critical to addressing current governance gaps and ensuring that AI development aligns with shared global interests.

The AI Dialogue can play a crucial role in strengthening international cooperation by providing a neutral and inclusive platform where governments, researchers, international organizations, and civil society can exchange perspectives and build shared understanding. In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, such a forum can help identify areas of convergence across governance approaches, reduce fragmentation, and foster mutual trust among stakeholders. It can also support evidence-based policymaking by integrating scientific expertise into global discussions. Ultimately, the Dialogue can contribute to reinforcing multilateral cooperation, encouraging collaborative solutions that promote safe, trustworthy, and responsible AI development while advancing stability, cooperation, and peace in the digital age.

The AI Dialogue should build upon existing international initiatives, research networks, and multilateral efforts that are already addressing the societal, ethical, and governance implications of artificial intelligence. Universities, research institutes, observatories, and international organizations have developed a wide range of initiatives that contribute valuable analysis, monitoring, and evidence on the impacts of AI across societies. In particular, publicly funded observatories and research initiatives focusing on the societal impacts of AI represent important resources for policymakers and international institutions. These initiatives often provide independent analysis, long-term monitoring of technological developments, and interdisciplinary expertise that can help inform evidence-based governance. However, many of these efforts operate with limited resources, while the global AI landscape is increasingly shaped by numerous initiatives and actors with significantly greater financial capacity, particularly in the private sector. The AI Dialogue could therefore bring important added value by strengthening connections between these existing knowledge initiatives and international policy discussions, while also recognizing the role of independent research infrastructures. Greater support—potentially through international organizations or multilateral partnerships—could help sustain and connect observatories working on AI governance and societal impacts across regions. By fostering stronger collaboration between research institutions, international organizations, and policy communities, the AI Dialogue could help ensure that global AI governance debates remain informed by independent expertise, diverse perspectives, and publicly oriented research, ultimately contributing to more balanced, inclusive, and evidence-based approaches to AI governance.

see answer 14

civil society, women, youth

online

One example of an initiative that contributes to effective AI governance is the work of the International Observatory on the Societal Impacts of Artificial Intelligence like we implement in Canada (Obvia), which focuses on interdisciplinary research, policy dialogue, and knowledge mobilization on the societal implications of artificial intelligence. Since its creation, the Observatory has developed a collaborative platform that brings together researchers from multiple disciplines-such as computer science, law, social sciences, ethics, and public policy-to examine the impacts of AI and support evidence-based governance. By fostering dialogue between academia, policymakers, civil society, and industry, the Observatory helps translate research insights into practical policy discussions and governance approaches. One important practice is the development of research networks and thematic working groups dedicated to key AI governance challenges, including responsible AI, digital security, ethical frameworks, and the social implications of emerging technologies. These networks allow experts to produce interdisciplinary analyses, policy recommendations, and knowledge resources that inform both national and international debates on AI governance. Another important contribution lies in knowledge mobilization and capacity-building activities, including policy briefings, public reports, workshops, and international collaborations. These efforts help bridge the gap between research and decision-making, while supporting a broader understanding of AI governance challenges among stakeholders. Such platforms demonstrate how independent, publicly supported research infrastructures can play a crucial role in advancing responsible, transparent, and inclusive approaches to AI governance.