Welcome to the second daily report from the General Debate at the 80th session of the UN General Debate (UNGA80). Our daily hybrid AI–human reports bring you a concise overview of how world leaders are framing the digital future.
Day 2 debates underscored a need to align rapid technological change with global governance, with countries calling for stronger international cooperation and responsible approaches to the development and use of technology. Delegations emphasised that digital technologies must serve humanity – advancing development, human rights, and democracy – while also warning of the growing security risks posed by AI misuse, disinformation, hybrid warfare, and cyber threats. Alongside some calls for rules and ethical standards, many highlighted the importance of inclusion, investment in digital infrastructure, and ensuring that all states can share in the benefits of the digital age.
To keep the highlights clear and accessible, we leave them in bullet points — capturing the key themes and voices as they emerge.
Global digital governance and cooperation
- Technological disruptions are currently outpacing governance. (Kenya)
- The digital age must be guided by international cooperation, ethical standards, and respect for human rights, with technology placed at the service of humanity. (Albania)
- The world needs a strong and effective UN system capable of responding to the rapid evolution of new technologies. (Czechia) A renewed UN can strengthen digital security and international cooperation with ethical and inclusive principles that support freedom of expression. (Panama)
- Albania is co-leading with Kenya the review process of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and will work to ensure a successful outcome. (Albania)
- International Geneva can make a unique contribution to the attainment of global goals, leveraging its expertise in humanity and innovation as a centre for reflection, discussion, and concerted action. (Switzerland)
Artificial intelligence
Responsible AI (governance)
- AI must serve human dignity, development, and human rights, and not the other way around. (Estonia)
- AI governance is seen as one of three significant global challenges facing the international community, along with nuclear weapons and the triple planetary crisis. (Costa Rica)
- Governments should act swiftly to create regulations that make AI safer and more beneficial for people. Focus should be placed on developing AI responsibly, not halting progress. (Latvia)
- A responsible approach from all international institutions, the private sector, and governments is needed to steer the AI revolution. (Slovakia)
- Regulations, ethical standards, and governance mechanisms are urgently needed in the AI space, to address issues of equity and access. (Guyana)
- A global standard is called for to ensure the use of AI is transparent, fair, and respects ethical boundaries, without substituting for human judgment or responsibility. (Namibia)
- The UN General Assembly’s decision to establish two global AI governance mechanisms – the independent international scientific panel and a global dialogue on AI governance – is welcomed. (Guyana, Costa Rica)
AI for development and growth
- AI can accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda if directed towards a fair and equitable digital transformation. (Spain) It can strengthen national economies and collective efforts for development, optimising resources, accelerating medical research, and democratising access to knowledge. (Costa Rica) AI can also promote economic growth, drive scientific progress and innovation, improve healthcare, and make education more accessible. (Latvia)
- AI and digitisation can accelerate the demand for energy. (Guyana)
- Investment is needed in new technologies and artificial intelligence to help developing countries transition to a more prosperous future. (Congo)
- AI must stand for ‘Africa included‘. (Nigeria)
- An AI hub for sustainable development is being opened, involving hundreds of African startups in the development of artificial intelligence. (Italy)
- A neutral sovereign artificial intelligence zone has been proposed. (Sri Lanka)
- Guyana is establishing an AI hyperscale data centre which will help accelerate digitalisation and improve competitiveness. (Guyana)
- Equipping citizens with the skills to use AI wisely and responsibly is essential. Estonia is implementing a new ‘Artificial Intelligence Leap’ to provide the best technological tools to students and teachers to maintain a comparative edge in education. (Estonia)
Digital tech, peace and security
- Concerns were raised about the impact of drones – with or without AI – on peace and security. The proliferation of drones available to countries with limited resources or non-state actors presents a rapidly evolving security threat, having increased the lethality and changed the economics of war. (Croatia, Latvia, Ukraine)
- Acts of hybrid warfare include disinformation campaigns, attempts to undermine public trust, cyberattacks, and acts of sabotage carried out by mercenaries recruited online. (Czechia) Damage to undersea cables and GPS jamming are also part of a growing wave of hybrid attacks. (Latvia)
- Emerging threats such as cyberattacks, hybrid attacks, and the misuse of AI (for instance to spread disinformation or enable attacks on critical infrastructure) challenge international peace, security, and stability. Countering these requires resilience and increased cooperation. (Latvia, Costa Rica)
- Technologies like AI, cyber capabilities, space technology and robotics can strengthen defences, but can also be misused by hostile actors. Security needs to be rethought, nationally and globally. Rules, safeguards, and cooperation must keep pace with innovation in technologies, to ensure that they can contribute to resilience and stability. The UN must evolve to be able to effectively address such complex challenges. (Croatia, Cyprus)
- There is an urgent need for global rules on how AI can be used in weapons, comparable in urgency to preventing nuclear weapons proliferation. (Ukraine)
- Military automation, enabled by AI, challenges the ability to maintain meaningful human control over life-or-death decisions without adequate regulatory frameworks. The conclusion of a legally binding instrument before 2026 is urged to establish prohibitions and regulations for autonomous weapons systems capable of identifying, selecting, and attacking targets without meaningful human control, stressing that no algorithm should make life or death decisions. (Costa Rica)
- The arms race is resuming, including in cyberspace. (Senegal) Cybercrime and cyber terrorism are emerging challenges. (Guyana)
Human rights in the digital space
- Safeguarding digital rights and advancing media freedom are critical for advancing democracy and protecting international law-based multilateral world order. (Estonia)
- It is proposed to establish a global charter for digital governance and ethical AI to protect human rights in the digital sphere. (Central African Republic)
Disinformation and misinformation
- Concern was expressed about an emerging generation that grows cynical because it believes nothing and trusts less, due to the rapid advancement of technology. (Nigeria)
- The ‘pandemic’ of misinformation and disinformation is an emerging challenge. (Guyana)
- The proliferation of misinformation, particularly via digital platforms, has fuelled distrust between countries, targeting elections, trade negotiations, and public sentiment. (Serbia)
- Disinformation, which gains even greater volume in digital environments, is eroding public trust and is part of the challenges testing the principles of the UN Charter and the UN’s authority. (Dominican Republic; Sierra Leone)
- Autocracies are deploying new technology to undermine trust in democracy, institutions, and each other. (Australia)
Digital technologies for development
Digital inclusion and access
- Ensuring that every person and country benefits from the opportunities of the
digital age is a global challenge. The international community must work together to close the digital gap between states that can and cannot benefit from digital tech and AI as development tools. (Sri Lanka) - There is a need for a new dialogue to promote a level of access to technology that allows emerging economies to more quickly close the wealth and knowledge gap. (Nigeria)
- The digital divide must be closed. (Costa Rica, Nigeria) Advancing digital inclusion and the digital transition is essential for states to meet development goals. (Comoros, Kiribati)
- A dedicated initiative is advocated for, bringing together researchers, the private sector, government, and communities to close the digital divide. (Nigeria)
- Investments are made in digital transformation and the digital economy to foster inclusion and innovation, and ensure no one is left behind. (Albania, Sierra Leone)
Digital public infrastructure and services
- Digital solutions are vital for overcoming challenges from geographical isolation and limited economies of scale, and are key to enhancing public services, education, commerce, and climate resilience. (Kiribati)
- The GovStack initiative, co-founded by Estonia in collaboration with the International Telecommunications Union and Germany, provides governments with a
digital public infrastructure toolbox aimed at modernising digital services by creating a modular, open-source, and scalable framework. (Estonia) - Digitalisation is a part of the commitment to sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda goals. (Serbia)
- Digital democracy is a national aim. (Sri Lanka)
Technology transfers, trade, and critical minerals
- Many countries need technology transfers and capacity building (Guatemala), and developed countries must honour their commitments in these areas. (Sierra Leone) Solidarity, translated into technology transfers and other measures, is needed. (Dominican Republic)
- The world urgently needs supply chains that are more reliable, diversified, and resilient. (Paraguay)
- Allowing critical infrastructure to depend on authoritarian regimes is gambling with both the economy and democracy. (Paraguay)
- Africa has an abundance of critical minerals that will drive the technologies of the future. Investments in the exploration, development, and processing of these minerals in Africa will diversify supply to the international market and help shape the architecture for peace and prosperity. Countries that host minerals must benefit from them through investment, partnership, local processing, and jobs. (Nigeria)
For other topics discussed, head over to our dedicated UNGA80 page, where you can explore more insight from the General Debate.
The General Debate at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly brings together high-level representatives from across the globe to discuss the most pressing issues of our time. The session took place against the backdrop of the UN’s 80th anniversary, serving as a moment for both reflection and a forward-looking assessment of the organisation’s role and relevance.
