The United Nations has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could widen global inequality unless countries collaborate to establish international regulations that ensure the technology benefits all nations.
The warning came as government officials, technology leaders and experts convened in Geneva for the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
The two-day meeting, which began on Monday, is taking place amid growing concerns that the rapid advancement of AI is outpacing governments’ ability to regulate it, potentially leaving developing countries behind while a few technologically advanced nations dominate the sector.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Egriselda López of El Salvador, who co-chairs the dialogue, said the gap in AI development between developed and developing countries is becoming increasingly pronounced.
“The AI divide is real,” López said.
She noted that while some countries possess advanced digital infrastructure, research capacity and technical expertise, many others are still grappling with limited internet access and inadequate public infrastructure, restricting their ability to harness AI’s potential.
According to the report, although AI has the potential to transform economies and improve lives, governments currently lack adequate national and international governance frameworks to effectively manage its risks.
Yoshua Bengio, co-chair of the scientific panel, said AI systems are rapidly approaching or exceeding human capabilities in several fields while evolving faster than scientific understanding and existing regulatory structures.
“We don’t have the right national or even international governance tools, and we don’t have good ways to steer the benefits so that they are shared by everyone,” Bengio said.
The panel also warned that emerging evidence of deceptive AI behaviour raises concerns that increasingly advanced systems could pose catastrophic risks if misused or exploited by malicious actors.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, who also co-chairs the panel, said AI has already accelerated the spread of misinformation online, posing serious threats to democracy and public trust.
“The world cannot govern what it cannot understand,” Ressa said, urging governments to strengthen oversight before the consequences become more severe.
The UN said the Global Dialogue is the organisation’s first dedicated platform on AI governance and is expected to shape future international standards, oversight mechanisms and efforts to ensure equitable access to artificial intelligence worldwid
