UN urges global rules for AI to prevent inequality
Only 15% of countries have AI strategies, raising concern about unchecked innovation widening global gaps, the UN tech chief said.
According to Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the UN’s International Telecommunications Union, the world must urgently adopt a unified approach to AI regulation.
She warned that fragmented national strategies could deepen global inequalities and risk leaving billions excluded from the AI revolution.
Bogdan-Martin stressed that only a global framework can ensure AI benefits all of humanity instead of worsening digital divides.
With 85% of countries lacking national AI strategies and 2.6 billion people still offline, she argued that a coordinated effort is essential to bridge access gaps and prevent AI from becoming a tool that advances inequality rather than opportunity.
ITU chief highlighted the growing divide between regulatory models — from the EU’s strict governance and China’s centralised control to the US’s new deregulatory push under Donald Trump.
She avoided direct criticism of the US strategy but called for dialogue between all regions instead of fragmented policymaking.
Despite the rapid advances of AI in sectors like healthcare, agriculture and education, Bogdan-Martin warned that progress must be inclusive. She also urged more substantial efforts to bring women into AI and tech leadership, pointing to the continued gender imbalance in the sector.
As the first woman to lead ITU, she said her role was not just about achievement but setting a precedent for future generations.
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