UN global AI governance dialogue: submission deadline imminent as Geneva summit approaches

Governments, businesses, academics, and civil society organisations have until 30 April to submit their views on AI governance, as the United Nations closes its global consultation ahead of the first formal session of its Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva this July.

The inaugural session will be held on 6 and 7 July 2026, alongside the AI for Good Global Summit, with a second session to follow in New York in May 2027.

The Dialogue was formally established by the UN General Assembly in September 2025, following commitments made in the Global Digital Compact adopted at the 2024 Summit of the Future. It is designed to give every country a formal role in shaping AI governance — not just the most technologically advanced nations.

Four thematic areas will structure the discussions: the societal, cultural, and economic implications of AI; capacity-building and efforts to bridge the AI divide between developed and developing nations; safe, secure, and trustworthy AI development; and the protection of human rights, transparency, and human oversight of AI systems.

H.E. Ms. Egriselda López of El Salvador and H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar of Estonia have been appointed as co-chairs for the 2026 proceedings. Officials have described the forum as a “dialogue of dialogues” — intended to connect existing international AI initiatives rather than centralise governance under a single framework.

Not all major powers are aligned. The United States has previously signalled opposition to multilateral AI governance initiatives, with officials rejecting what they described as centralised control of AI development.

Submissions can be made via the portal at un.org/global-dialogue-ai-governance.