Developing Nations Demand Greater Voice in Global AI Rules at UN

Shibbir AHmed, New York — Developing countries are calling for a greater role in shaping the global rules governing artificial intelligence, warning that the rapid expansion of AI could deepen existing economic inequalities if decisions about the technology remain concentrated in wealthy nations. The issue emerged prominently during discussions surrounding the 2026 United Nations General Assembly in New York, where leaders and officials from Africa, Asia and Latin America argued that developing countries should not be left simply to adopt technologies and standards designed elsewhere.

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, foreign minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, said developing countries should have a meaningful role in establishing international standards and norms for artificial intelligence. She warned that technological changes could reproduce longstanding economic inequalities unless countries in the developing world have a voice in determining how AI is governed.

The debate comes as governments and technology companies accelerate the development of increasingly powerful AI systems, while policymakers grapple with questions involving safety, economic disruption, employment, security and access to technology. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has compared the challenges posed by artificial intelligence with other major global risks, emphasizing the need for international cooperation and attention to power imbalances.

A UN Security Council discussion on artificial intelligence also brought technology leaders into the conversation. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei were among those discussing the importance of international cooperation on AI safety. For developing countries, however, the debate extends beyond safety.

Officials from those countries are increasingly focused on access to computing infrastructure, investment, digital skills, data, economic opportunities and participation in the institutions that will establish AI standards. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have highlighted the potential economic benefits of AI for developing economies, while also warning that unequal access could widen the technological divide.

The stakes are particularly significant in Africa, Asia and Latin America, where governments are seeking to use AI to improve public services, education, health care, agriculture and economic productivity while confronting limited technological infrastructure.

The discussions at the United Nations therefore reflect a broader question about who will shape the next generation of global technology rules. As AI development accelerates, developing countries are pressing for an international framework in which they participate not only as consumers of artificial intelligence but also as decision-makers in determining how the technology is developed, governed and deployed.