Guterres urges inclusive AI governance at WAIC
Analysis based on 15 articles · First reported Jul 17, 2026 · Last updated Aug 03, 2026
The speech reinforces the narrative of increasing regulatory and cooperative frameworks for AI, which may lead to higher compliance costs for AI companies but also open opportunities in sustainable AI and capacity building. Markets may see moderate long-term shifts as global standards evolve.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on July 17, 2026, called for international cooperation to ensure AI benefits all countries and warned that without it, AI could widen global inequality. He emphasized that AI governance must involve all nations, not just a few. Guterres announced plans to present recommendations for a Global Fund for AI and highlighted three priorities: expanding AI capacity in developing countries, establishing international safety standards, and making AI environmentally sustainable. He urged major AI companies to disclose their environmental footprint and transition to renewable energy by 2030. The UN has advanced AI governance through the Global Digital Compact, the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
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