Bridging the AI innovation gap
9 Jul 2025 09:30h - 09:35h
Bridging the AI innovation gap
Session at a glance
Summary
This discussion features a keynote address by Seizo Onoe, Director of the Telecommunications Standardization Bureau at the ITU, delivered at an AI for Good summit. Onoe emphasizes that as societies become more interconnected, AI must serve to unite rather than divide people, which represents a foundational promise of the AI for Good initiative. The summit brings together decision makers and innovators from countries at various stages of economic development to foster collaboration and ensure AI solutions contribute meaningfully to sustainable development.
Onoe stresses that all stakeholders, including those in government, industry, academia, and civil society, have crucial roles in shaping the future through standards work and consensus-building. He explains that standards are essential for capturing and sharing innovation globally, supporting universal access to new technologies, and ensuring no one is left behind in technological advancement. The ITU’s Bridging the Standards Gap program is highlighted as particularly important for achieving these goals.
The speaker outlines several key initiatives, including the AI Skills Coalition designed to help everyone navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape, from policymakers to the next generation of innovators. He mentions the launch of regional AI for Good Impact events, with the first held in India and another planned for South Africa. The organization is also conducting research on global AI investment trends, governance, and skill development while sharing frameworks to improve AI capacity across different economic sectors.
Onoe notes that their Innovation Factory and Acceleration Program connect promising startups with investors and partners, and emphasizes the significant participation of African students in their global AI problem-solving competitions. He concludes by calling for strong partnerships, diverse expertise, and a global perspective to successfully bridge AI innovation gaps and create opportunities for young innovators worldwide.
Keypoints
**Major Discussion Points:**
– AI’s role in bridging global divides and bringing societies closer together, emphasizing that AI should unite rather than separate people across different economic development stages
– The critical importance of international standards in AI development, particularly through ITU’s Bridging the Standards Gap program to ensure global access to new technologies and prevent anyone from being left behind
– Capacity building and skills development initiatives, including the AI Skills Coalition designed to help everyone from policymakers to the next generation of innovators keep pace with rapidly evolving AI technology
– Global outreach and regional implementation through AI for Good Impact events, research sharing on AI investment trends, and frameworks to help different economic sectors benefit from AI solutions
– Support for innovation and young talent, particularly through the Innovation Factory, Acceleration Program, startup connections, and global AI problem-solving competitions with significant participation from African students
**Overall Purpose:**
The discussion serves as an opening keynote address for an AI for Good summit, aimed at rallying international support for collaborative AI development that promotes sustainable development and ensures equitable global access to AI benefits. The speaker is calling for partnerships and contributions to ITU’s various AI initiatives.
**Overall Tone:**
The tone is consistently inspirational and collaborative throughout. The speaker maintains an optimistic, forward-looking perspective while emphasizing inclusivity and global cooperation. There is a sense of urgency around bridging AI gaps, but it’s presented in an encouraging rather than alarming manner. The tone remains steady and professional, with particular enthusiasm when discussing young innovators and global participation.
Speakers
– LJ Rich: Role/Title: Not specified, Area of expertise: Not specified (appears to be moderating/hosting the event)
– Seizo Onoe: Role/Title: Director of the Telecommunications Standardization Bureau (TSB) at the ITU, Area of expertise: Telecommunications standardization, AI for Good initiatives, international technology standards and development
Additional speakers:
None identified beyond the provided speakers names list.
Full session report
# AI for Good Summit Keynote Address Summary
## Event Overview
LJ Rich introduced Seizo Onoe, Director of the Telecommunications Standardisation Bureau (TSB) at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), for a keynote address at an AI for Good summit. The event brought together decision makers and innovators to foster collaboration on AI solutions for sustainable development.
## Core Message: AI as a Unifying Force
Onoe opened his address with the central premise that “AI must help bring us closer, not to divide us apart,” describing this as “one of the foundational promises of AI for Good.” He emphasized that AI solutions should contribute meaningfully to sustainable development across countries at various stages of economic development.
## The Role of Standards in Global Innovation
Onoe highlighted the critical importance of international standards in AI development, explaining that standards “capture and share innovation for the world to keep innovating together” and “support global access to new tech capabilities to leave no one behind.” He positioned the ITU’s Bridging the Standards Gap programme as crucial for bringing innovation ecosystems to global scale and ensuring universal access to new technologies.
The speaker stressed that all stakeholders—government, industry, academia, and civil society—have important roles in shaping the future through standards work and consensus-building.
## AI for Good Impact Initiative
Onoe outlined several key components of the AI for Good Impact Initiative:
### AI Skills Coalition
This initiative assists stakeholders from policymakers and regulators to industry leaders and innovators in keeping pace with AI evolution. The organization conducts research on global AI investment trends, governance, and skill development while sharing frameworks to improve AI capacity across different economic sectors.
### Regional Events
The ITU has launched regional AI for Good Impact events, with the first held in India last October and another planned for South Africa in December. These events aim to expand global reach while maintaining local relevance.
### Innovation Factory and Acceleration Programme
This program connects promising startups with investors and partners, bridging the gap between innovation and implementation.
### Global AI Problem-Solving Competitions
Onoe made a notable observation about these competitions: “most of our participants are students from Africa. I find that powerful.” This highlights the global participation and untapped potential in regions often overlooked in technology discussions.
### Young AI Leaders Community
The initiative includes efforts to support and engage the next generation of AI innovators worldwide.
## Call for Partnerships
Onoe concluded by emphasizing the need for strong partnerships, diverse expertise, and a global perspective to successfully bridge AI innovation gaps and create opportunities for young innovators worldwide. He invited new partners to join these collaborative efforts.
## Conclusion
LJ Rich thanked Onoe for his address, reinforcing the invitation for continued collaboration in AI for Good initiatives. The keynote successfully outlined how international cooperation through standards, capacity building, and inclusive innovation programs can help ensure AI serves as a unifying force for global development rather than a source of division.
Session transcript
LJ Rich: to invite our opening keynote. It’s a pleasure to invite to the stage the director of the Telecommunications Standardization Bureau, that’s the TSB, at the ITU. Please join me in giving a warm good morning welcome to Seizo Onoe-san. ♪♪ Good morning, everyone. I’d like to take this opportunity to call for your support. Our societies and economies become more interconnected. We are reminded of our differences and divide still to be overcome. AI must help bring us closer, not to divide us apart. And that’s one of the foundational promises of AI for Good. This summit brings together decision makers and innovators from countries at all stages of economic development. It stimulates collaboration to ensure that AI solutions make decisive contributions to sustainable development. And it emphasizes that we all have key roles to play in creating the future we want. All of you, whether in government, industry, academia, or civil society, can drive our standards work with your contributions and consensus decision. Standards capture and share innovation for the world to keep innovating together. They support global access to new tech capabilities to leave no one behind. That’s why ITU’s Bridging the Standards Gap program is so important. Standards can help us bring new innovation ecosystems to global scale. And we need to develop the capacity and skills to match. That’s also the aim of our AI for Good Impact Initiative and its fast-growing range of programs. Our AI Skills Coalition aims to help everyone keep pace with a fast-evolving AI landscape, from policymakers and regulators to industry leaders, professionals across the workforce, and the next generation of innovators. We have launched a new series of regional AI for Good Impact events, with the first held in India last October and the next in South Africa in December. We are sharing research on global trends in AI investment, government governance, and skill development, as well as AI solutions for sustainable development, providing success around the world. And frameworks to access and improve capacity to benefit from AI in different sectors of our economies. Our Innovation Factory and its new Acceleration Program are connecting promising startups with investors and partners that share their ambitions. And in our global AI problem-solving competitions, most of our participants are students from Africa. I find that powerful. If we keep creating opportunities for young innovators, as we aim to with our young AI leaders community, we will bridge AI innovation gaps faster and faster.
Seizo Onoe: To do all of this, we need strong partnerships, diverse expertise, and a global perspective. I thank our many partners already involved, and I welcome you to join us. Thank you.
LJ Rich: Thank you. Thank you so much to Seizo Onoe.
Seizo Onoe
Speech speed
86 words per minute
Speech length
31 words
Speech time
21 seconds
AI must help bring societies closer together rather than divide them apart
Explanation
Seizo Onoe argues that artificial intelligence should serve as a unifying force that connects people and societies rather than creating divisions. This is presented as one of the foundational promises of the AI for Good initiative.
Evidence
Referenced as one of the foundational promises of AI for Good
Major discussion point
AI for Global Unity and Development
Topics
Development | Sociocultural
AI solutions should make decisive contributions to sustainable development across all economic development stages
Explanation
The speaker emphasizes that AI technologies must actively contribute to sustainable development goals regardless of a country’s current economic status. The summit brings together participants from countries at various stages of economic development to ensure inclusive progress.
Evidence
The summit brings together decision makers and innovators from countries at all stages of economic development
Major discussion point
AI for Global Unity and Development
Topics
Development | Economic
The AI for Good summit facilitates collaboration between decision makers and innovators globally
Explanation
Onoe presents the summit as a platform that stimulates collaboration among key stakeholders including government, industry, academia, and civil society. The goal is to ensure that everyone has a role in creating the desired future through AI development.
Evidence
Summit brings together decision makers and innovators and emphasizes that all participants from government, industry, academia, or civil society can drive standards work
Major discussion point
AI for Global Unity and Development
Topics
Development | Legal and regulatory
Standards capture and share innovation globally to enable continued collaborative innovation
Explanation
The speaker argues that technical standards serve as a mechanism to capture innovations and make them accessible worldwide. This sharing of innovation enables the global community to continue building upon each other’s work collaboratively.
Evidence
Standards work can be driven by contributions and consensus decisions from all stakeholders
Major discussion point
Standards and Global Access
Topics
Infrastructure | Development
Standards support global access to new technology capabilities to ensure no one is left behind
Explanation
Onoe contends that technical standards play a crucial role in democratizing access to new technologies. By establishing common frameworks, standards help ensure that technological advances are accessible to all, preventing digital divides.
Evidence
ITU’s Bridging the Standards Gap program is highlighted as important for this purpose
Major discussion point
Standards and Global Access
Topics
Infrastructure | Development
ITU’s Bridging the Standards Gap program is crucial for bringing innovation ecosystems to global scale
Explanation
The speaker emphasizes the importance of the ITU’s specific program designed to address gaps in standards implementation. This program is presented as essential for scaling innovation ecosystems from local or regional levels to global reach.
Evidence
Program is mentioned as part of developing capacity and skills to match global scaling needs
Major discussion point
Standards and Global Access
Topics
Infrastructure | Development
AI Skills Coalition helps everyone keep pace with the fast-evolving AI landscape across all sectors
Explanation
Onoe describes a comprehensive initiative aimed at ensuring that various stakeholders can adapt to rapid changes in AI technology. The coalition targets policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, professionals, and future innovators to maintain relevance in the evolving field.
Evidence
Coalition specifically aims to help policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, professionals across the workforce, and the next generation of innovators
Major discussion point
Capacity Building and Skills Development
Topics
Development | Sociocultural
Regional AI for Good Impact events are being launched globally, starting with India and expanding to South Africa
Explanation
The speaker announces a new series of regional events designed to extend the AI for Good initiative’s reach across different geographical regions. These events represent a strategic expansion to ensure global participation and impact.
Evidence
First event held in India in October, next scheduled for South Africa in December
Major discussion point
Capacity Building and Skills Development
Topics
Development | Sociocultural
Young AI leaders community and global competitions with strong African student participation will bridge innovation gaps
Explanation
Onoe highlights the significant participation of African students in AI competitions and the creation of a young leaders community. He argues that creating opportunities for young innovators, particularly from underrepresented regions, will accelerate the bridging of AI innovation gaps globally.
Evidence
Most participants in global AI problem-solving competitions are students from Africa, which the speaker finds powerful
Major discussion point
Capacity Building and Skills Development
Topics
Development | Sociocultural
Strong partnerships, diverse expertise, and global perspective are essential for AI development
Explanation
The speaker argues that successful AI development requires collaboration across different types of organizations and expertise areas. A global perspective is necessary to ensure that AI solutions address worldwide challenges and opportunities effectively.
Evidence
Thanks existing partners and welcomes new ones to join collaborative efforts
Major discussion point
Partnership and Collaboration
Topics
Development | Legal and regulatory
Agreed with
– LJ Rich
Agreed on
Importance of collaborative partnerships for AI development
Innovation Factory and Acceleration Program connect promising startups with investors and partners
Explanation
Onoe describes specific programs designed to bridge the gap between innovative startups and the resources they need to scale. These programs facilitate connections between emerging companies and established investors or partners who share similar goals and ambitions.
Evidence
Programs specifically connect startups with investors and partners that share their ambitions
Major discussion point
Partnership and Collaboration
Topics
Economic | Development
LJ Rich
Speech speed
91 words per minute
Speech length
420 words
Speech time
275 seconds
Welcome extended to new partners to join existing collaborative efforts
Explanation
LJ Rich, as the moderator, acknowledges and reinforces the invitation for new partners to join the collaborative AI for Good initiatives. This represents an open call for expanded participation in the ongoing efforts.
Major discussion point
Partnership and Collaboration
Topics
Development
Agreed with
– Seizo Onoe
Agreed on
Importance of collaborative partnerships for AI development
Agreements
Agreement points
Importance of collaborative partnerships for AI development
Speakers
– Seizo Onoe
– LJ Rich
Arguments
Strong partnerships, diverse expertise, and global perspective are essential for AI development
Welcome extended to new partners to join existing collaborative efforts
Summary
Both speakers emphasize the critical need for partnerships and collaboration in AI development, with Onoe highlighting the necessity of diverse expertise and global perspective, while Rich reinforces the invitation for new partners to join existing efforts
Topics
Development | Legal and regulatory
Similar viewpoints
Both speakers advocate for expanding collaborative networks and partnerships as fundamental to successful AI development and implementation
Speakers
– Seizo Onoe
– LJ Rich
Arguments
Strong partnerships, diverse expertise, and global perspective are essential for AI development
Welcome extended to new partners to join existing collaborative efforts
Topics
Development | Legal and regulatory
Unexpected consensus
No unexpected consensus identified
Speakers
Arguments
Explanation
Given that this is primarily a keynote presentation with minimal interaction, there are no unexpected areas of consensus. The agreement between speakers is limited to the moderator’s reinforcement of the keynote speaker’s invitation for partnership, which is expected in this format
Topics
Overall assessment
Summary
The discussion shows complete alignment on the importance of partnerships and collaboration for AI development, with both speakers supporting expanded participation in AI for Good initiatives
Consensus level
Very high consensus but limited scope – this is primarily a keynote presentation format with minimal debate or discussion. The consensus is more procedural than substantive, as LJ Rich serves as moderator reinforcing Seizo Onoe’s messages. The implications are positive for partnership building and collaborative AI development, but the format limits deeper exploration of potential areas of disagreement or nuanced positions on complex AI governance issues
Differences
Different viewpoints
Unexpected differences
Overall assessment
Summary
No disagreements identified among speakers
Disagreement level
Zero disagreement level – This is a keynote presentation format where Seizo Onoe delivers a unified vision for AI for Good initiatives, with LJ Rich serving as moderator providing introductory and closing remarks. The absence of disagreement is expected given the format, but it means there was no substantive debate about approaches, priorities, or implementation strategies for AI development and governance. This could indicate either strong consensus among stakeholders or limited opportunity for critical discussion of potential challenges and alternative approaches.
Partial agreements
Partial agreements
Similar viewpoints
Both speakers advocate for expanding collaborative networks and partnerships as fundamental to successful AI development and implementation
Speakers
– Seizo Onoe
– LJ Rich
Arguments
Strong partnerships, diverse expertise, and global perspective are essential for AI development
Welcome extended to new partners to join existing collaborative efforts
Topics
Development | Legal and regulatory
Takeaways
Key takeaways
AI should serve as a unifying force to bring societies closer together rather than create divisions, with a focus on sustainable development across all economic stages
Standards are crucial for capturing and sharing innovation globally, ensuring no one is left behind in accessing new technology capabilities
Capacity building and skills development are essential, requiring programs like the AI Skills Coalition to help all sectors keep pace with AI evolution
Strong partnerships, diverse expertise, and global perspective are fundamental requirements for successful AI development and implementation
Regional expansion of AI for Good initiatives is underway, with events in India and South Africa demonstrating global reach
Young innovators, particularly from Africa, represent a powerful force for bridging AI innovation gaps through competitions and leadership programs
Resolutions and action items
Continue support for ITU’s Bridging the Standards Gap program to bring innovation ecosystems to global scale
Expand regional AI for Good Impact events following the India model, with South Africa as the next location
Maintain and grow the AI Skills Coalition to serve policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and the workforce
Develop the Innovation Factory and Acceleration Program to connect startups with investors and partners
Foster the young AI leaders community and continue global AI problem-solving competitions
Invite new partners to join existing collaborative efforts in AI for Good initiatives
Unresolved issues
Specific mechanisms for how AI will actually bring societies closer together are not detailed
Concrete measures for ensuring ‘no one is left behind’ in technology access are not specified
Details about funding, timeline, and implementation strategies for various programs are not provided
Specific criteria for startup selection in the Innovation Factory and partnership matching processes are not outlined
Suggested compromises
None identified
Thought provoking comments
AI must help bring us closer, not to divide us apart. And that’s one of the foundational promises of AI for Good.
Speaker
Seizo Onoe
Reason
This comment is insightful because it frames AI development through a moral and social lens rather than purely technical or economic terms. It acknowledges the dual potential of AI technology – to either unite or divide humanity – and positions this as a fundamental choice that must guide AI development. This perspective elevates the discussion beyond technical capabilities to societal responsibility.
Impact
This comment establishes the philosophical foundation for the entire keynote, setting up AI development as inherently tied to social cohesion and global cooperation. It frames all subsequent points about standards, collaboration, and capacity building as means to achieve this unifying vision.
Standards capture and share innovation for the world to keep innovating together. They support global access to new tech capabilities to leave no one behind.
Speaker
Seizo Onoe
Reason
This comment provides a profound reframing of technical standards from bureaucratic requirements to tools of global equity and innovation democratization. It presents standards as mechanisms for ensuring inclusive technological progress rather than barriers to entry, which challenges common perceptions of standardization processes.
Impact
This insight shifts the discussion from viewing standards as technical necessities to seeing them as instruments of global inclusion. It provides the conceptual bridge between the opening moral imperative about AI unity and the practical programs that follow, making the case for why standardization work is fundamentally about social justice.
And in our global AI problem-solving competitions, most of our participants are students from Africa. I find that powerful.
Speaker
Seizo Onoe
Reason
This observation is particularly thought-provoking because it challenges assumptions about where AI innovation originates and highlights the untapped potential in regions often overlooked in technology discussions. The speaker’s personal reflection (‘I find that powerful’) adds emotional weight and suggests this represents a paradigm shift in global innovation patterns.
Impact
This comment serves as concrete evidence supporting the earlier theoretical points about AI’s potential to bridge divides and leave no one behind. It transforms the discussion from aspirational goals to demonstrable reality, showing that inclusive AI development is not just possible but already happening in unexpected ways.
Overall assessment
While this transcript represents a keynote address rather than an interactive discussion, Seizo Onoe’s key comments work together to construct a compelling narrative that reframes AI development from a technical challenge to a moral imperative for global unity. The progression from the philosophical foundation (AI must unite, not divide) through the practical mechanism (standards as tools of inclusion) to concrete evidence (African students leading in AI competitions) creates a coherent argument for why international cooperation in AI standards and capacity building is essential. These insights collectively shift the conversation away from competitive national AI strategies toward collaborative global development, positioning the ITU’s programs not as bureaucratic initiatives but as vital tools for ensuring AI serves humanity’s collective advancement.
Follow-up questions
How can AI solutions make decisive contributions to sustainable development?
Speaker
Seizo Onoe
Explanation
This was mentioned as a key focus of the AI for Good summit but requires further exploration of specific mechanisms and implementation strategies
How can standards help bring new innovation ecosystems to global scale?
Speaker
Seizo Onoe
Explanation
This concept was introduced but needs deeper investigation into the practical applications and methodologies for scaling innovation ecosystems through standardization
What capacity and skills development is needed to match AI innovation?
Speaker
Seizo Onoe
Explanation
This was identified as a critical need but requires further research into specific skill gaps and capacity building requirements across different sectors and regions
How can frameworks be developed to access and improve capacity to benefit from AI in different sectors of economies?
Speaker
Seizo Onoe
Explanation
This was mentioned as part of their research sharing but indicates a need for further development of sector-specific frameworks and implementation strategies
How can AI innovation gaps be bridged faster through opportunities for young innovators?
Speaker
Seizo Onoe
Explanation
While noting the power of student participation from Africa, this suggests a need for research into effective methods for accelerating innovation gap closure through youth engagement
Disclaimer: This is not an official session record. DiploAI generates these resources from audiovisual recordings, and they are presented as-is, including potential errors. Due to logistical challenges, such as discrepancies in audio/video or transcripts, names may be misspelled. We strive for accuracy to the best of our ability.
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