New Delhi, July 6. India will join governments from around the world at the United Nations Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance, which begins in Geneva on July 6, marking the first intergovernmental forum dedicated exclusively to global AI governance.
The two-day meeting will bring together representatives of governments, international organisations, industry, academia and civil society to deliberate on the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence, as countries seek to develop coordinated approaches to its governance.
The dialogue precedes the AI for Good Global Summit, which opens in Geneva on July 8. According to the organisers, the back-to-back scheduling is intended to distinguish discussions on AI governance and policy from conversations focused on technological innovation and practical applications of AI.
According to the UN, the discussions will focus on global AI governance frameworks, capacity building, technical cooperation, sustainable development and the role artificial intelligence can play in accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN has emphasised that the new dialogue is intended to complement – not replace – existing national and regional AI governance initiatives.
The meeting represents one of the first major institutional outcomes of the Global Digital Compact, adopted by UN member states during the Summit of the Future in September 2024. The compact recognised AI as a critical global issue requiring international cooperation and called for the creation of two new mechanisms: an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance. Both bodies were formally established through a UN General Assembly resolution adopted in August 2025.
Since the adoption of the compact, several UN agencies – including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies – have been working with member states to develop common principles, shared terminology and coordination mechanisms for AI governance, rather than negotiating a legally binding international treaty.
India’s participation comes as New Delhi continues to expand its role in shaping global discussions on emerging technologies and digital governance.
While the Government of India has not announced details of its agenda for the Geneva meeting, its recent policy positions have consistently advocated the development of responsible and trustworthy AI, inclusive digital growth and governance frameworks that reflect the priorities and developmental needs of emerging and developing economies.
The Geneva dialogue is expected to contribute to ongoing international efforts to build consensus on managing the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence while ensuring that its benefits are shared broadly and its risks are addressed through greater global cooperation.
