UN-organised event to address challenges in government AI capacity-building
A UN side event will examine how governments can build internal AI capacity for regulation, deployment, and public-interest use.
A side event during the 11th Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs will examine how governments can strengthen internal AI capacity as AI becomes more central to public administration, regulation, and digital development.
The event is being organised by UNU-CPR, UNU-CRIS, UNDP, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with support from Japan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Organisers said governments are facing a dual challenge of regulating AI systems while building internal expertise to understand, manage, and deploy them in the public interest.
The concept note says countries are increasingly creating dedicated AI units, appointing Chief AI Officers, and embedding technical experts in ministries and regulatory bodies, while disparities in access to resources and expertise continue to shape how capacity-building develops across regions.
The event will also address concerns about AI security and misuse of technology. Organisers highlighted risks including misinformation, cyber-enabled manipulation, and automated disinformation campaigns, and said that countries with more limited institutional and technical capacity may face disproportionate exposure.
The discussion is intended to contribute to wider debates on responsible and inclusive AI governance under the Global Digital Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals by identifying institutional models, lessons learned, and opportunities for cross-regional cooperation on building government AI capacity.
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