The UN Reaches AI Consensus – Now the Real Work Begins

At a time when consensus is elusive, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/79/325 by consensus and without a vote after months of intense negotiations. Sponsored by the United States and co-sponsored by 123 countries, the resolution is a symbolic and substantive declaration that AI governance is inherently international and urgent.

The resolution creates two new mechanisms that stand out for their ambition and design. The Independent International Scientific Panel on AI will comprise forty experts serving in their personal capacity, with appointments balanced by gender and geography. Members will serve three-year terms, disclose conflicts of interest, and elect co-chairs from both developed and developing countries. The Panel is tasked with producing an annual, evidence-based assessment synthesizing existing research, accompanied by thematic briefs as needed. These reports will be presented not only to the General Assembly but also to the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, anchoring political deliberations in independent science.

The Global Dialogue on AI Governance is the second mechanism. It will convene annually for two days, alternating between New York and Geneva, beginning with a launch at UNGA High-Level Week this September and its first full session in 2026 alongside the ITU’s AI for Good Summit. The Dialogue will bring together governments, civil society, industry, and academia to discuss cooperation, share best practices, and address gaps. The resolution specifies its agenda clearly: ensuring safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems; building capacity in developing countries; tackling social, ethical, cultural, and linguistic implications; ensuring interoperability of governance approaches; embedding transparency, accountability, and human oversight; and promoting open-source software, open data, and open AI models.

This level of detail is significant. Too often, multilateral processes begin with vague commitments that stall when priorities diverge. Here, the General Assembly has created institutions with explicit mandates, timelines, and outputs. The design reflects lessons from past governance failures: independence, inclusivity, and transparency are written into the terms of reference. However, there are also notable limitations.

Secure independence and sustainable resourcing

For the Scientific Panel and Global Dialogue to matter, they must be credible and properly funded. Independence, conflict-of-interest safeguards, and predictable resources are not add-ons – they are preconditions for trust.

Accelerate in AI time

The first full Dialogue is not scheduled until 2026 – an eternity in AI timelines. Between now and then, parallel processes like the EU AI Act, G7 and G20 principles, and national frameworks can bridge the gap. Linking these efforts to the UN track can prevent fragmentation and ensure the Dialogue launches from a position of coherence.

Build bridges across governance tracks

The UN resolution leaves open the question of how global efforts will connect with regional and national frameworks. Rather than duplicating, the UN process should position itself as the anchor for interoperability – a space where diverse approaches converge into common principles.

Empower civil society and industry

States retain authority, but stakeholders beyond government must shape outcomes if legitimacy is to hold. While there are no official AI side events at UNGA this year, Digital at UNGA has created space for precisely this kind of dialogue. Side Events from the Global Solutions Initiative, Project Liberty, and others are featured as “affiliate sessions” and show how civil society can model inclusive, resilient digital infrastructure – the prerequisite for trustworthy AI governance.

Make open-source work for the public good

The resolution’s nod to open-source AI, data, and models is promising but incomplete. Without safeguards, it risks amplifying vulnerabilities. Done right, open tools can democratize access, support capacity building, and help close divides. Done poorly, they widen them.

The hard part begins now. The AI Modalities Resolution provides scaffolding, but only substantial follow-through will turn it into a foundation. The test ahead is whether governments and stakeholders can secure independence, move at the speed of technology, bridge governance tracks, empower non-state voices, and channel open-source innovation toward the public good. If they succeed, this process could set a new standard for how the world governs transformative technologies. If they fail, the resolution will stand as another well-intentioned declaration that could not keep pace with reality.

Featured image: Secretary-General António Guterres (at podium and on screens) delivers closing remarks during the last plenary meeting of the 79th session of the General Assembly. – Photo credit: UN Photo/Manuel Elias

All views are expressed in personal capacity and do not represent official government positions.