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Report on Geneva 2027 AI Summit preparations available

A report outlining initial consultations for the Geneva 2027 AI Summit has been submitted to the Swiss government following a preparatory event held during GenAI Zürich 2026.

The report consolidates inputs from an invite-only roundtable held on 1 April 2026 and written submissions collected through an open call. It was prepared by ICT4Peace and GenAI Zürich to support Switzerland’s planning for the summit.

According to the organisers, the roundtable brought together participants from government, academia, industry, civil society, and international organisations. It was co-moderated by Daniel Stauffacher, founder of ICT4Peace, Ambassador Thomas Schneider, Vice-Director of the Swiss Federal Office of Communications (BAKOM), and Ambassador Markus Reubi, project lead for the Geneva 2027 AI Summit at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

In addition to the roundtable, the report includes written contributions submitted through an online consultation process, with organisers noting that 55 submissions were received, including 52 with substantive responses.

The report presents a synthesis of themes and proposals related to the objectives and potential outcomes of the Geneva 2027 AI Summit. According to the organisers, the analysis is based on recurring themes and areas of convergence identified during the consultation process, rather than a statistically representative survey.

Discussions were conducted under the Chatham House Rule, and the report does not attribute comments to individual participants.

The findings were submitted to the Swiss government’s Platform Tripartite on 13 April 2026 to inform further preparations for the summit.

Switzerland is scheduled to host the next global AI Summit in 2027 in Geneva, following previous summits held in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, France, and India.

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UK invests £500 million in Sovereign AI fund to boost startups

The UK government has launched a £500 million Sovereign AI initiative to support domestic startups, aiming to strengthen national capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign technology providers.

The programme is designed to help companies start, scale and compete globally while remaining rooted in Britain.

An initiative that combines direct investment with broader support, including fast-track visas, access to high-performance computing and assistance in navigating regulation and procurement.

Early backers target firms working on advanced AI infrastructure, life sciences and next-generation computing, reflecting a strategic focus on sectors with long-term economic and security implications.

A central feature is access to national supercomputing resources, addressing one of the most significant barriers to AI development.

By providing large-scale compute capacity and linking it to potential future investment, the programme aims to accelerate research, testing and deployment within the UK ecosystem.

Essentially, the policy signals a shift toward a more interventionist approach, positioning the state as an active investor rather than a passive regulator.

The objective is to anchor innovation domestically, ensuring that intellectual property, talent and economic value remain within the UK as global competition in AI intensifies.

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New India partnership targets AI innovation and digital transformation

Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on advanced technologies and digital transformation. The agreement focuses on joint projects, consultancy, and technical support across sectors.

The partnership covers AI, machine learning, Internet of Things, cybersecurity, 5G, and cloud computing. It also includes the development of turnkey solutions, technology transfer, and the commercialisation of innovative products.

Capacity development is a key component of the collaboration. Both organisations will support workforce upskilling and skill development to strengthen technical capabilities.

Officials stated that the partnership aims to leverage complementary strengths to deliver technology solutions. It is also expected to support innovation and contribute to India’s broader digital development objectives.

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UNCTAD warns least developed countries lag in services export growth

UN Trade and Development said services are reshaping global trade and that many developing and least developed countries remain on the margins of services-driven export growth.

According to UNCTAD, global trade in services grew by about 5.3% annually over the past decade and now accounts for more than a quarter of total trade. The organisation says this growth has been driven by digitally deliverable services, including information technology, finance, and professional services.

UNCTAD says participation remains uneven. Its data show that developing economies recorded the fastest average annual growth in digitally deliverable services exports between 2015 and 2024, while least developed countries lagged behind and saw stronger growth in goods exports than in digitally deliverable services. Separate figures also show that services account for a substantial share of intermediate inputs in both OECD and non-OECD economies.

The organisation links that shift to ‘servicification’, which it describes as the increasing integration of services across production, including logistics, finance, digital design, and marketing. UNCTAD says outcomes for developing economies depend on infrastructure, skills, and regulatory settings that support services-intensive production.

UNCTAD also says trade policy is becoming increasingly important as negotiations include more provisions on digital trade, including cross-border data flows, data protection, electronic transactions, and digital infrastructure. It says such provisions can reduce regulatory fragmentation and improve predictability, while restrictive measures can limit access to key services and reduce participation in global value chains.

The organisation says policymaking remains constrained by limited data, especially in developing countries. Gaps in detailed services trade statistics, including by sector, partner, and mode of supply, make it harder to identify competitive strengths, assess barriers, and negotiate effectively.

UNCTAD convened the 12th session of its Multi-year Expert Meeting on Trade, Services and Development in Geneva on 15 and 16 April to examine servicification and its implications for diversification. According to the organisation, discussions focused on how policy frameworks, regulatory choices, and trade agreements shape outcomes, and on the need to align data, policy, and implementation more closely.

UNCTAD says it is complementing that work with analytical and capacity-building support, including its Primer on data for trade in services and development policies, as well as work with the Caribbean Community through the Trade-in-Services Information System.

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WHO launches AI Community of Practice for emergency response surveillance

The World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has launched a Community of Practice on AI for disaster and emergency response surveillance through the WHO Collaboratory platform.

According to the organisation, the initiative brings together national authorities, practitioners, researchers, partners, and WHO staff to share knowledge, build capacity, and develop practical guidance on the use of AI in surveillance, early warning, risk assessment, and operational response.

WHO says the Community of Practice is part of its AI Literacy Programme and is intended to strengthen national and regional capacity to evaluate, adopt, govern, and scale AI tools during disasters and health emergencies. Members will have access to training modules, peer-to-peer learning, technical working groups, and a repository of best practices and tested guidance.

The organisation states that the platform prioritises the ethical, equitable, and transparent use of AI in line with its standards. Dr Annette Heinzelmann, WHO Regional Emergency Director, a.i., said:

‘At WHO, we advocate for the science-driven use of artificial intelligence in public health response, especially during emergencies.‘

Heizelmann added:

‘Our priority is to ensure these technologies are applied in ways that are safe, ethical and grounded in public health needs. This initiative reflects our commitment to supporting Member States in translating innovation into faster, more effective emergency response.‘

WHO says it launched the All-Hazards Information Management Toolkit last year as an AI-powered tool to support emergency information management, including rapid risk assessments, response plans, monitoring tools, and situation reports. According to WHO, participants from 20 countries were trained in the use of the toolkit and in AI literacy for emergency preparedness and surveillance.

Dr Oliver Morgan, Head of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, said: ‘Artificial intelligence has enormous potential in public health, but its impact depends on how responsibly and effectively it is applied.’

Morgan expanded: ‘At the WHO Hub in Berlin, we develop innovative tools and bring experts together through initiatives like the Collaboratory to support countries and regions to detect health threats faster and respond more effectively. This Community of Practice helps ensure AI solutions move beyond pilots and into real-world emergency response, where speed, trust and usability matter most.’

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AI needs digital public infrastructure to work for citizens, World Economic Forum says

The World Economic Forum says AI will only improve public services at scale if governments build on strong digital public infrastructure rather than fragmented systems and isolated pilot projects.

In a new analysis, the WEF points to digital identity, payments, and data exchange as the core layers that already support service delivery in many countries.

It argues that AI can make those systems more responsive by speeding up tasks such as identity verification, record retrieval, and payment processing.

But the Forum also warns that combining AI with digital public infrastructure will not work without clear safeguards. Interoperability, trust, and consent-based data use are presented as essential to making AI systems effective across public institutions while protecting users.

The wider message is that AI in government is no longer just a question of adoption. For countries hoping to scale public-sector AI, the bigger challenge is whether the underlying digital infrastructure is strong enough to support it.

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Canada boosts quantum research funding

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada has announced new funding to support the country’s quantum research ecosystem. The initiative aims to strengthen scientific capacity and innovation in the field.

According to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the funding will support researchers, projects and collaboration across institutions. It is intended to advance both fundamental research and applied development.

The programme also focuses on developing talent and building expertise, ensuring that researchers and students can contribute to the development of quantum technologies. This reflects a broader effort to sustain long-term growth in the sector.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada positions the funding as part of ongoing efforts to reinforce quantum capabilities and research leadership in Canada.

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Google expands AI partnerships to support digital transformation in Latin America

A series of initiatives aimed at supporting AI adoption across Latin America has been announced by Google, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank.

These measures focus on public sector capacity, digital infrastructure and policy development as governments seek to integrate AI into economic and administrative systems.

The initiatives include the release of a policy-oriented report outlining how AI could contribute to regional economic growth, alongside guidance on workforce development, infrastructure expansion and regulatory frameworks.

An approach that emphasises responsible adoption, with attention to balancing innovation with risk management.

A further component involves the creation of an AI training academy for public officials, designed to improve institutional capacity to manage and deploy AI technologies.

In parallel, funding support has been allocated to expand digital public infrastructure (DPI), including cross-border digital identity systems intended to improve service delivery and administrative efficiency.

The programme by Google reflects broader trends in international cooperation on digital transformation, where public and private actors collaborate to scale AI adoption while addressing structural gaps in skills, infrastructure and governance across emerging economies.

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Indonesia calls for targeted strategy to close AI development gap

Indonesia is seeking to narrow gaps in AI development through targeted strategies in knowledge, investment and infrastructure. The approach was outlined by Deputy Minister Stella Christie during a policy discussion.

Christie said AI capabilities remain concentrated in developed countries, particularly in research output and patent production. She noted that understanding these gaps is essential to shaping effective national strategies.

She emphasised the need to build specialised capabilities aligned with national strengths, citing sectors such as seaweed research. Investment decisions should focus on areas that match domestic needs and priorities.

On infrastructure, Christie highlighted the importance of data management and local capacity as key components of AI systems. She added that data availability could support development if managed securely and effectively.

Infrastructure expansion, including data centres, must consider a stable and sustainable energy supply. She said coordinated efforts across education, investment and infrastructure are required to strengthen competitiveness.

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Quantum technologies tested to strengthen energy systems

Energy systems are under growing pressure from rising demand, geopolitical volatility and increasingly complex grid operations. Electrification, renewable integration and digital infrastructure growth are making power systems harder to optimise and secure with conventional tools.

The World Economic Forum’s white paper Quantum for Energy and Utilities: Key Opportunities for Energy Transition, developed with Aramco, highlights quantum technologies as complementary tools for specific high-value challenges.

Operational optimisation is one of the earliest use cases. Power networks must balance renewable generation, storage, flexible demand and grid limits in real time.

Hybrid quantum-classical approaches are being tested, including EDF and Pasqal’s electric-vehicle smart charging work, in which a neutral-atom quantum system enabled scheduling across more than 100 qubits to better align charging with grid conditions.

Quantum approaches are also being explored for materials and monitoring. Simulating batteries, hydrogen systems and carbon capture remains computationally heavy, slowing innovation.

Quantum sensing is also being trialled for emissions and infrastructure monitoring, including methane detection tests at the Flotta Oil Terminal in Scotland that captured intermittent emissions missed by periodic inspections.

Infrastructure security is another focus, especially long-term cyber risk. Trials such as Austria’s Verbund testing quantum-safe communications in live grid environments show early progress in post-quantum cryptography.

Despite advances, limitations in hardware, scalability and integration keep most applications in pilot phases, with wider adoption dependent on structured investment and clear use cases.

Why does it matter?

Energy systems are growing more complex as rising demand, renewable integration and digitalisation stretch traditional optimisation and security tools to their limits. Even in early pilots, quantum approaches could boost grid efficiency, accelerate the discovery of clean-energy materials and enhance long-term infrastructure security.

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