AI Governance for Humanity Lab
Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than the frameworks needed to govern it. Decisions about how AI is built, deployed, regulated, and governed are increasingly consequential for all countries, yet too often they are shaped without universal participation, shared evidence, or common standards.
Through Resolution A/RES/79/325, the UN General Assembly established two core elements of the emerging architecture for global cooperation on AI governance: the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, to deliver evidence-based assessments of AI's opportunities, risks, and impacts; and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, a policy platform where all 193 Member States can engage. The AI Governance for Humanity Lab was established to support and strengthen that architecture from within the regions and communities that global processes must reflect. It connects regional perspectives, expertise, and partnerships to these global processes, and serves as a platform for advancing innovation in global cooperation on AI governance.
About the Lab
Embedded in the Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET), the Lab focuses on innovation and convening on AI governance issues. It works to mobilise a network of stakeholders in support of the vision for global cooperation on AI governance advanced by the Governing AI for Humanity report, and to develop new modes of information-sharing between key actors that can form the basis of durable institutions. This includes supporting the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the principal UN platform for international cooperation on AI governance.
Areas of Work
The Lab's work runs across three areas:
The Lab works with AI governance experts, governments, civil society organisations, academia, and the private sector across regions to advance shared approaches to AI governance. This includes convening stakeholders and producing knowledge products that inform international policy discussions.
The Lab conducts horizon scanning, analyses AI policy landscapes across geographical, thematic, and technological dimensions, and facilitates transparency and confidence-building measures between key actors. This work informs the development of international policy approaches, safeguards, and standards.
Working with scientists, technical experts, and practitioners, the Lab explores and develops new approaches to AI governance, including prototyping collaborative practices and tools that can feed into international governance processes.
Current Topics
Interoperability in AI Governance:AI governance is currently a patchwork of national and regional frameworks with limited coordination between them. This workstream will produce a white paper providing Member States with an evidence-based assessment of that landscape, alongside policy options for facilitating cooperation and interoperability, ahead of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva in July 2026.
Industry Insights: How are AI governance frameworks actually being implemented, and what is their impact? This workstream analyses how industry is operationalising AI governance in practice and will produce a report with direct relevance to two themes at the July 2026 Global Dialogue: safe, secure, and trustworthy AI; and transparency, accountability, and human oversight in the context of human rights.
New workstreams will be launched based on identified needs.
Convenings and Events
The Lab convenes a series of global meetings in Valencia, Spain, virtually, and in other cities, designed to strengthen the UN's contribution to multistakeholder AI governance. Bringing together policymakers, scientists, industry, and civil society, the series is a primary mechanism for translating research into actionable international cooperation for feeding into the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The Lab is open to collaboration with experts and initiatives across regions.
*If you are interested in working with the Lab, please contact us at odet (@) un.org.
Related Links
- Global Dialogue on AI Governance
- Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence
- Governing AI for Humanity report
- UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies homepage
The AI Governance for Humanity Lab was established in Valencia, Spain, with the support of the Kingdom of Spain.