The AI for Good Global Summit and the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 High-level Event convened in parallel. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)-hosted events worked towards a sustainable and inclusive digital future and fostered collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI) governance, skills, and standards.
According to an ITU press release, AI for Good Global Summits feature global dialogues on AI governance that seek to ensure developing countries are included in discussions that can shape the digital future.
The 2025 AI Governance Dialogue, organized by ITU with 53 UN partners, brought together ministers, high-level government officials, and stakeholders from around the world to explore pathways towards responsible and impactful AI. The co-chairs’ summary of the Dialogue underscores the need for AI that bridges innovation, inclusion, and sustainability.
In addition, the AI for Good Global Summit 2025 showcased progress on AI standards in networking, multimedia, energy efficiency, healthcare, food security, and road safety, among other areas.
Outcomes include:
- The Global Initiative on AI for Food Systems, led by ITU, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to leverage AI to improve productivity, efficiency, and global food security;
- Two key resources on standards and policy considerations for multimedia authenticity, released by the AI and Multimedia Authenticity Standardization Collaboration, driven by ITU, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and other standards communities; and
- An AI Standards Exchange Database in support of cohesive standards development and application.
Convening alongside the Summit, the WSIS+20 High-level Event build on 20 years of using technology for human progress to prepare for the UN General Assembly’s (UNGA) 20-year review of the WSIS process – a multi-stakeholder platform to address challenges in digital development driven by advancing technologies.
Participants agreed that WSIS principles, rooted in human rights, development, and multilateral cooperation, should guide how technological progress is managed and highlighted the role of the WSIS process in bringing together different actors to find solutions.
A chair’s summary of the event points to “strong consensus” that existing mechanisms, including the WSIS Forum and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), as well as initiatives like the AI for Good Global Summit, “are not only relevant but indispensable” to implementing the Global Digital Compact by translating its principles into measurable actions.
An ITU WSIS+20 press release identifies four key priorities on digital cooperation that emerged from the event’s 200+ sessions: universal connectivity; ethical AI and emerging technologies; sustainability and green technology; and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Given the challenges and opportunities associated with rapid technological change, participants also emphasized the importance accelerating implementation of the WSIS Action Lines, established in 2005 to connect technology and development.
The AI for Good Global Summit convened from 8-11 July 2025. The WSIS+20 High-level Event convened from 7-11 July. Both events took place in Geneva, Switzerland. [UN News Story on 2025 AI for Good Global Summit] [UN News Story on WSIS+20 High-level Event]