Poltem Akademi

In short, the dialogue would be successful if it moves from ideas to practical, cooperative, and inclusive global action on AI governance.

• Safe, secure and trustworthy AI
• Social, economic, ethical, cultural, linguistic and technical implications of AI
• Transparency, accountability, and human oversight

My selection is based on the idea that effective AI governance requires practical outcomes, global cooperation, and inclusivity. AI technologies are evolving rapidly and impacting multiple sectors worldwide, so discussions alone are not sufficient. What matters is the ability to translate dialogue into clear principles and actionable steps that can guide countries and organizations.

Yes, there are several cross-cutting and emerging issues that may not be fully captured by typical AI governance themes. One key issue is the environmental impact of AI. Training large-scale models requires significant energy and computational resources, which raises concerns about sustainability and carbon emissions. This aspect is often overlooked but is becoming increasingly important as AI adoption grows.

In my context, governance gaps in AI are increasingly visible as adoption grows faster than regulation and institutional capacity. One major challenge is the lack of clear regulatory frameworks. This creates uncertainty for businesses, educators, and developers about how AI can be used responsibly, especially regarding data protection, privacy, and accountability. As a result, innovation may either slow down due to uncertainty or expand without sufficient safeguards. Another key issue is limited technical capacity and infrastructure. Many institutions face difficulties in accessing advanced AI tools, high-quality data, and skilled professionals. This contributes to a growing digital divide, where only a small number of actors can fully benefit from AI technologies. The spread of misinformation and misuse of generative AI is also a concern, particularly in social media and public discourse. Without proper awareness and governance, this can affect trust, education, and social stability. However, there are also important opportunities. AI has strong potential to improve education, entrepreneurship, and digital services, especially for young people and startups. It can enhance learning methods, support innovation, and create new economic activities.

The AI Dialogue can play a crucial role as a platform for coordination, trust-building, and alignment among countries and stakeholders. First, it can facilitate the development of shared principles and standards for AI governance. By bringing together diverse actors, the Dialogue helps create a common understanding of key issues such as safety, transparency, accountability, and ethical use of AI. Second, it can strengthen international cooperation by enabling continuous communication between governments, private sector actors, and civil society. This helps reduce fragmentation in regulations and promotes more consistent and interoperable approaches across countries.

The AI Dialogue should build upon and connect with several existing international initiatives and partnerships to avoid duplication and strengthen global coordination. Key initiatives include the work of the United Nations on digital governance and AI, as well as efforts by the OECD, particularly its AI Principles, which provide widely recognized guidelines for responsible AI. The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI is also an important reference for human-centered and rights-based approaches.

Different stakeholders can contribute to the AI Dialogue by bringing complementary expertise, perspectives, and responsibilities. Governments can provide policy direction, regulatory frameworks, and ensure alignment with national and international priorities. They play a key role in enabling cooperation and implementing agreed outcomes. Private sector actors contribute technical innovation, practical experience, and resources. Their involvement is essential for ensuring that governance approaches are realistic and applicable to rapidly evolving technologies. Academia and research institutions offer evidence-based insights, risk assessments, and independent analysis, helping ground discussions in scientific knowledge. Civil society organizations ensure that human rights, ethics, and societal impacts are considered, representing the interests of diverse communities.

Several important voices remain underrepresented in global discussions on AI governance. First, developing countries, particularly in Africa, parts of the Middle East, and Latin America, are often not fully included. Despite being significantly affected by AI adoption, they have limited influence in shaping global rules. Their inclusion is essential to ensure fairness and avoid widening the digital divide. Second, local communities and grassroots organizations are rarely represented. These groups experience the direct social impacts of AI systems, especially in areas like public services, employment, and access to information, yet their perspectives are often overlooked. Third, youth and students—who will be the primary users and developers of future AI systems—are not sufficiently involved in decision-making processes. Their insights and expectations are valuable for shaping long-term policies.

Innovative engagement formats can make the AI Dialogue more interactive, inclusive, and action-oriented. One effective format is scenario-based simulations, where participants work through real-world AI governance challenges (e.g., misinformation, data breaches, or AI in public services). This encourages practical thinking and collaborative problem-solving rather than abstract discussion. Another approach is multi-stakeholder co-creation labs, where small, diverse groups (governments, private sector, academia, and civil society) jointly design policy ideas or frameworks. These labs can produce concrete outputs such as draft guidelines or action plans. Interactive digital platforms can also enhance participation, allowing remote stakeholders to contribute in real time through polls, Q&A sessions, and collaborative documents. This ensures broader and more inclusive engagement beyond those physically present. Additionally, regional breakout sessions can provide space for context-specific discussions, enabling participants to address local priorities while feeding their insights into the global dialogue.

Several existing policies, practices, and platforms offer concrete approaches to effective AI governance. The AI Principles developed by the OECD provide a widely adopted framework emphasizing transparency, accountability, and human-centered values. Similarly, the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI promotes a rights-based and inclusive approach, guiding countries in aligning AI development with ethical standards. A strong regulatory example is the European Union's AI Act, which introduces a risk-based approach, categorizing AI systems based on their potential impact and applying stricter rules to high-risk applications. This model offers a practical way to balance innovation with safety. In terms of practices, algorithmic impact assessments (AIAs) are increasingly used to evaluate potential risks before deploying AI systems, especially in public sector applications. These assessments improve accountability and transparency. Technical approaches such as model audits and independent evaluations also contribute to governance by identifying biases, safety issues, and performance limitations. Platforms that support open research and collaboration, including shared datasets and benchmarking tools, help improve trust and reproducibility.