AI and Global Governance: Navigating the Future of International Relations in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

By Javier Surasky-

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping economies, societies, and governance systems worldwide. With AI now integral to international relations, countries and institutions are grappling with aligning AI innovation with global stability, ethical standards, and environmental sustainability. This post explores the implications of AI for global governance, spotlighting the main actors, initiatives, and frameworks driving responsible and sustainable AI development.

To do so, we will explore some critical issues, from AI and power dynamics to AI impacts on SDG implementation and sketch a map of the main actors and processes linked to AI governance. Finally, we will focus our attention on Latin America and the Caribbean.

To start, we should recognize that AI has become a significant force in the geopolitical race for technological dominance. Leading nations in AI research and development gain substantial strategic advantage. As nations race to secure a foothold in AI, this technology is reshaping economic competition, defense capabilities, and even diplomatic relations. Consequently, an AI divide has surged, creating AI-powerful and AI-weak countries, which shows similarities to the origin of the industrialized vs. non-industrialized countries divide.

The unequal distribution of AI capabilities and their impacts on the future of social well-being makes it imperative to debate AI's ethical implications in international relations. As the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in its recent message to the World Internet of Things Convention, “Digital technology is about bridging divides. Let’s ensure that these rapidly evolving technologies serve all people, equally.”

The potential misuse of AI, whether in disinformation, cybercrime, autonomous weapons, or surveillance, poses critical risks to global security and individual freedoms. We will never forget that AI is a means without pre-defined ends. The discussion on AI ethics is mainly an effort to establish globally agreed ends to a potent tool. Human Rights, environmental protection, and peacekeeping should be at the center of any efforts, underlining the relevance of the UN Charter, Multilateral Environmental Agreements, Human Rights, and Humanitarian Law as pillars of any AI global governance design.

We must understand that the impacts of AI on those critical areas will lead to reshaping them. The emergence of an AI governance will force countries to develop new understandings of peace, war, humanitarian law, human rights, our relations with our planet, and even other concepts that were at the International Law basis from its inception, such as sovereignty.

I am particularly worried about AI's impact on the environment. AI development involves energy-intensive computing processes, generating significant carbon emissions. UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted by 193 States in 2021, emphasizes the need for sustainable practices in AI, calling for energy-efficient algorithms and eco-friendly infrastructure.

As a result, economic, social, and environmental sustainability should be at the heart of any AI governance design, and we will need to be serious in the often delayed discussion on incorporating the cultural dimension as a fourth sustainable development dimension.

Mapping the Main Actors and Initiatives in AI Governance

A range of actors and initiatives shapes the international AI governance landscape, each addressing AI’s challenges. Below is a look at the most influential organizations and their initiatives.

1. United Nations

The UN is a leading body addressing AI’s global implications. Every UN main body and entity will have to deal with AI impacts in its field of competencies. Let me highlight three UN entities playing relevant roles in the AI governance design:

UNESCO: In 2021, UNESCO introduced the first global AI ethics recommendation, promoting AI systems that are transparent, inclusive, aligned with human rights, and eco-conscious.
International Telecommunication Union: ITU works on establishing international AI standards, fostering collaboration to address AI’s ethical and technical issues.
UN Institute for Disarmament Research: UNIDIR researches AI in warfare, focusing on autonomous weapons and promoting responsible AI use in military applications.

2. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

The OECD introduced the first intergovernmental AI principles in 2019, endorsed by over 40 countries. These principles advocate for AI systems that are trustworthy, transparent, and aligned with human rights. Besides, the AI Policy Observatory developed by the OECD serves as a global hub for policymakers to share and track AI governance efforts worldwide, a task that the ECOSOC would carry out to be fully universal, democratic, and participatory. It would be essential to learn the lessons from the International Cooperation Effectiveness process, which failed to become universal due to the OECD ownership of its initial stages.

3. European Union (EU)

The EU has emerged as a global champion in AI regulation by adopting its AI Act, categorizing AI systems by risk level, and promoting law enforcement. The creation of the EU High-Level Expert Group on AI, which developed the Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI, advocates for lawful, ethical, and technically robust AI deployment was also a step in the right direction

4. United States

The U.S. has adopted many laws on AI at different government levels. For example, the National AI Initiative Act of 2020 supports R&D in AI while encouraging collaboration across sectors, while the US National Institute of Standards and Technology has developed risk management frameworks for AI, focusing on promoting trustworthy systems.

5. Global Partnership on AI

GPAI, a coalition of 29 countries, fosters responsible AI use that is aligned with democratic values. Partnering with the OECD, GPAI focuses on data governance, climate action, and AI’s societal impact, emphasizing transparency and ethical standards.

6. World Economic Forum

The WEF’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution is a hub for AI research, encouraging responsible AI practices in industry.

7. AI for Good Global Summit

Led by the ITU, this initiative unites academia, industry, and government to explore AI’s potential for sustainable development. Emphasizing ethical and environmental considerations, the 2024 summit highlighted AI’s role in achieving the SDG and discussed how to move from principles to actionable AI governance.

8. Internet Governance Forum

The IGF is an annual event coordinated by the United Nations, working as an open platform for global stakeholders to discuss pressing issues in Internet governance, including AI ethics and governance. The IGF promotes the development of frameworks that ensure AI serves the public interest, respects human rights, and addresses sustainability. IGF discussions inform both national and international policies, making it a strong voice in inclusive AI governance.

Latin America and the Caribbean: playing the game

Latin America and the Caribbean are increasingly active in AI discussions, with initiatives focused on social good, ethical governance, and sustainable development. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean’s Digital Agenda (eLAC), and the Inter-American Development Bank`s initiative fAIr LAC are spearheading frameworks to ensure AI aligns with regional needs, including equitable data policies and climate-sensitive strategies.

On a different but connected string, the LAC Digital Alliance, officially known as the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, is a partnership between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean launched in 2023 to foster digital transformation with an emphasis on environmental resilience and social inclusion trough ethical AI development.

Conclusion

As AI advances, the global community must balance innovation with ethical, social, economic, and environmental considerations to maintain peace, protect human rights, ensure environmental health at a planetary level, and foster International Law and sustainable development.

Effective governance of AI demands adaptable, transparent, and inclusive frameworks to navigate AI’s role in shaping the future of international relations, an effort requiring States' and stakeholders' engagement, knowledge sharing, and mutual learning through an open and participatory dialogue.

The UN must be at the center of developing a global AI governance framework, articulating the various ongoing efforts. Even when it faces multiple failures, the UN is the world's only universal international organization for general purposes we have, and it is the best suited to deal with common challenges and find mutually accepted solutions to global problems based on long-accepted principles.

Because of AI development, the world is changing quickly and dramatically. The direction of the change will depend on us, but the rise of a new world has become unstoppable.