Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a topic of global discussion, capturing the imagination of many. While those familiar with information technology (IT) may have some understanding of AI, few truly grasp its full potential, especially in its autonomous form. AI is capable of revolutionising nearly every aspect of human life, including, as some claim, even influencing human reproduction.
A striking example of AI’s advancement was witnessed when it conducted a full church service in Europe, leaving many in awe. But AI has gone far beyond that. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is now exploring the future of autonomous AI by formulating policies and guidelines that will shape its safe and ethical deployment.
The emergence of “agentic AI” – AI systems that can reason, act independently and scale at unprecedented speed – is reshaping the technological landscape. These powerful, low-cost AI models are making artificial intelligence more accessible and potentially more energy-efficient, but they are also becoming more difficult to regulate. As some leading tech CEOs predict the arrival of human-level AI within two to three years, concerns about safety risks, weakened regulatory guardrails and responsible governance continue to grow.
These pressing issues will take centre stage at the AI for Good Global Summit 2025, the United Nations’ leading platform for advancing AI in support of sustainable development. Scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from July 8–11, 2025, the four-day gathering will focus on AI’s role in addressing global challenges. In addition to AI governance, the summit will explore advancements in robotics, autonomous mobility, quantum computing, AI in space and brain-computer interfaces.
Hosted by ITU, the UN agency for digital technologies, the AI for Good initiative aims to identify trustworthy AI applications, build AI skills and standards and strengthen global discussions on AI governance for sustainable development.
“As AI development accelerates, so does the urgency to keep innovation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said ITU secretary-general, Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “AI for Good is where the world comes together to ensure these technologies are safe, responsible, and leave no one behind.”
At the AI for Good Global Summit 2025, experts from governments, industry, academia, civil society, and the UN will address how AI is reshaping industries, governance and society. Discussions will focus on AI’s impact on safety, employment, sustainability, privacy, security and economic transformation.
Among the AI visionaries set to present are AI pioneer and Nobel Prize winner, Geoffrey Hinton; Founder and scientific director of Mila – Quebec AI Institute and Turing Award winner, Yoshua Bengio; AI & climate lead at open-source AI developer Hugging Face, Sasha Luccioni and other leading voices in the field.
Responding to the Global Digital Compact, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2024, the AI for Good Global Summit 2025 will serve as a global platform for dialogue on AI governance, standards and capacity-building. As AI adoption accelerates, the summit will help inform policies and develop solutions to ensure that AI is developed and deployed responsibly, fairly and for the benefit of all.
Yet, a global AI governance gap persists. An ITU survey found that 55 per cent of member states lack a national AI strategy, while 85 per cent have no AI-specific regulations. To address this, the Summit will feature ITU’s second AI Governance Day on July 10, focusing on AI safety, trust, international standards and regulatory frameworks. Special attention will be given to bridging the governance gap and building AI skills and capacity in developing countries.
On July 11, 2025, the summit will host the International AI Standards Exchange, bringing together global standards bodies to strengthen AI’s technical backbone. The focus will be on ensuring interoperability, safety and inclusive AI standards development.
“ITU is driving the development of a trusted and interoperable AI ecosystem,” said director of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardisation Bureau, Seizo Onoe. “Our AI standards are supporting innovation in areas like network orchestration, energy efficiency, multimedia coding and content authenticity.”
In recognition of AI’s potential to drive sustainable development, ITU has established the AI for Good Awards, in partnership with Tech To The Rescue. These awards will honour groundbreaking AI solutions that contribute to global progress in three categories: AI for People, AI for Planet and AI for Prosperity. Applications for the awards will open soon.
The AI for Good Global Summit is organised by ITU in collaboration with 47 partner UN agencies. The annual event, co-hosted by the Government of Switzerland, is free of charge and open to all. For the first time, the 2025 edition will take place at Palexpo, Geneva’s largest event venue.
Beyond ITU’s efforts, other international organizations, including the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO), are advocating for stronger AI ethics frameworks to minimise misuse. AI ethics refers to the moral principles guiding the responsible and fair development of AI. Although no global regulatory body enforces AI ethics, many technology companies have adopted AI codes of conduct to address concerns such as bias, data privacy and environmental risks.
The future will be heavily influenced by AI as machines increasingly execute complex tasks with precision. Recent advances have allowed AI to learn, adapt and make decisions, enabling it to perform tasks previously thought to require human intelligence.
AI innovation is expected to play a central role in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With the vast amount of data generated daily on human behaviour, health, commerce and migration, AI can be leveraged to drive positive change worldwide.
To ensure responsible AI deployment, ITU will continue to serve as a neutral platform where governments, industries and academia can collaborate on AI policies, technical standards and ethical guidelines.
However, countries must take deliberate steps to mitigate the risks of AI misuse while maximising its benefits. Speaking during a digital press briefing on the Global Inclusivity and AI-Africa Conference, deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of African Affairs, Joy Basu emphasised the importance of responsible AI use.
“While AI presents significant opportunities, we must also acknowledge and mitigate its risks,” Basu noted. “Many of these risks apply globally, including the potential for AI-driven election interference and misinformation. No single country can tackle these challenges alone – it requires a global conversation.”
At the Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-24), hosted by ITU in Kampala, Uganda, in July 2024, Bogdan-Martin called for collaborative regulatory approaches to balance AI innovation with governance.
“With change being the only certainty, regulators must work together to shape policies that leverage transformative technologies like AI while promoting digital inclusion, innovation and sustainable development,” she said.
As AI continues to evolve, its impact on society, governance, and economies will be profound. The responsibility lies with governments, industry leaders and international organisations to ensure that AI remains a force for good, rather than a tool for exploitation.
