Establish a UN-led body to oversee compute-intensive AI

ai-regulation policy ai-governance regulations international-relations

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Key insights

Even many skeptical voices still support international discussion or some form of coordination; the disagreement is over whether that should become centralized UN authority (14334, 6478, 6475, 11991, 14332).
Several supporters tie legitimacy to inclusion, arguing that developing countries should help write rules and build governing capacity rather than remain consumers or rule-takers (17205, 15909, 15392, 17574).
The sharpest substantive divide is over what should be regulated: supporters emphasize model testing, evaluation, audits, and even compute or capability thresholds, while opponents warn against regulating the technology or R&D itself (17206, 15496, 6348, 8543, 7348).
Some pro-UN voices describe the proposed governance body less as a lone regulator than as a coordinator of existing organizations and initiatives, including scientific panels, dialogues, and capacity-building efforts (11995, 12916, 17256, 14235).

Arguments for

Universal multilateral forum

Supporters argue that AI crosses borders and cannot be governed effectively by isolated national efforts. They present the United Nations as the only truly universal forum where all countries can participate as equals in aligning strategies, rules, and standards while reducing fragmentation.

AI is advancing at runaway speed. The question is whether we will govern it together – or let it govern us. For the first time, the AI Dialogue gives every country a seat at the table. We must now turn global participation into global action – to make AI safer, fairer, more acces…

António Guterres · Jul 6, 2026 · full quote
We should practice true multilateralism and recognize the important role of the United Nations. We should enhance alignment and coordination on AI development strategies, governance rules and technical standards, so as to form a consensus-based global governance framework at an e…

Xi Jinping · Jul 17, 2026 · full quote
Pakistan therefore calls for safety norms to be developed through inclusive multilateral processes under the United Nations, where all nations participate as equals.

Government of Pakistan · Jul 7, 2026 · full quote
International cooperation should promote technical interoperability, normative convergence where appropriate, capacity building, and mutual trust while recognizing different national and regional realities, levels of technological development, and institutional capacities. And th…

Government of Brazil · Jul 7, 2026 · full quote
AI governance requires global cooperation. The United Nations has an important role as a universal platform, bringing together governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia, the technical community, and civil society.

Government of Czechia · Jul 7, 2026 · full quote
This global dialogue is taking place at the United Nations, which is the world's foremost platform for forging global consensus on issues of shared international concern. Machines do not quarrel over borders, ideology, or pride. Humans do. AI governance structure must reflect uni…

Kirti Bardhan Singh · Jul 7, 2026 · full quote

Common standards and testing

Proponents say advanced AI needs shared safety standards, independent evaluation, and internationally recognized testing before rollout. Some explicitly envision audits, inspections, enforceable responsibilities, and even thresholds based on capability or resources like compute for systems subject to oversight.

UN organizations must play a frontline role in drawing up safety and security standards that are common to us, then disseminating them among states. We must also collectively tackle the issue of independent evaluation of AI models before their rollout.

Government of France · Jul 7, 2026 · full quote
We need an international forum for discussion that establishes globally accepted standards for testing, provides expert and impartial analysis of capabilities and risks, and serves as a venue for cooperation among nations.

Sam Altman · Jun 17, 2026 · full quote
Second, we are likely to eventually need something like an IAEA for superintelligence efforts; any effort above a certain capability (or resources like compute) threshold will need to be subject to an international authority that can inspect systems, require audits, test for comp…

OpenAI · May 22, 2023 · full quote
The Assembly calls on all States to consider establishing a multilateral body dedicated exclusively to overseeing AI technologies. This body could define a common language, standards and a regulatory framework, involving all interested stakeholders, and coordinate the various ong…

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe · May 20, 2026 · full quote
Legal and governance frameworks must therefore be enforceable nationally and supra-nationally, voluntary principles are important, but they are not enough. We need rules that can be audited, remedies that can be accessed, responsibilities that can be assigned, and cooperation tha…

Russell Dlamini · Jul 6, 2026 · full quote
AI must be a majority tool, not an exclusive weapon. And governance requires independent evaluation mechanisms, shared standards, and coordination, of course.

Óscar López Águeda · Jul 6, 2026 · full quote

Inclusion and capacity building

Supporters frame a UN-led body as a way to ensure developing countries are not merely consumers or rule-takers in AI governance. They connect this to building regulatory capacity, narrowing digital divides, and securing equal rights, opportunities, and voice in writing norms and interoperability frameworks.

Inclusive governance must ensure that all countries have the capacity and voice to shape how AI is developed, deployed, and regulated. If interoperability is to deliver development dividends for all countries, some priorities emerge. First, establish a common rights-based floor t…

United Nations Resident Coordinator Offices · Jul 7, 2026 · full quote
Smaller and Developing nations must not be constrained to being just consumers of AI, but be empowered as contributors to the knowledge, language, and cultural perspectives upon which future AI systems are built.

Hans Wijayasuriya · Jul 6, 2026 · full quote
No country can govern this technology alone. Cambodia sees 3 concrete areas where the international community can support shared progress. First, by building the technical capacity of regulators, particularly in developing countries. Second, by fostering active exchange of inform…

VannDa Chhea · Jul 6, 2026 · full quote
The Dialogue's structure should also provide space for practical discussions on AI solutions for development, including applications in agriculture, education, and health, as well as for discussions on the accountability of the private sector and technology platforms, on the impo…

Group of 77 and China · Apr 8, 2026 · full quote
Inclusion is a voice in writing the rules. Norms, standards, and interoperability frameworks must be authored by both those already at the summit and those who've just started climbing.

Shahza Fatima Khawaja · Jul 7, 2026 · full quote
We should practice true multilateralism, play the central role of the U.N. in global governance, pay attention to the fragmentation of global AI governance, and support the U.N. Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI in playing t…

2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference & High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance · Jul 17, 2026 · full quote

Coordinated global architecture

Another case for a UN-led body is that it could connect and organize work that is already emerging across dialogues, scientific panels, and other institutions. In this view, the UN's value lies in convening, coordinating, and facilitating practical cooperation across governments, industry, researchers, and civil society.

The Global Digital Compact gave the multilateral system two things it never had before: an independent scientific panel to assess AI's impacts and opportunities, and a global dialogue where every government has a seat at the table. Today, for the first time, both come together. T…

Amandeep Singh Gill · Jul 6, 2026 · full quote
This is why the United Nations has launched the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, established the International Independent Scientific Panel on AI, and proposed a global capacity-building architecture - including a global AI fund and a network of regional and national AI centres.…

Tatiana Valovaya · Jan 15, 2026 · full quote
This is where the United Nations has a unique opportunity: as a convener, coordinator and facilitator capable of helping governments, researchers, civil society, philanthropy and industry build the connective tissue that effective AI governance requires.

Katy Knight · Jul 7, 2026 · full quote
Effective coordination between the United Nations, the OECD, and the European Union, and other relevant organizations remain essential, with each contributing according to its mandate and expertise.

Government of Portugal · Jul 6, 2026 · full quote
In a short period, the community has laid the foundation of emerging United Nations architecture for AI governance. Today, with the publication of the panel that we just recently heard, the dialogue we are witnessing, the first substantive output in this architecture.

Gabriela González · Jul 7, 2026 · full quote

Arguments against

Sovereignty and overreach

Opponents argue that a UN-led or supranational AI body would be an overreach that replaces national judgment with centralized bureaucracy. They warn that ceding authority over AI to international institutions could sacrifice self-determination and expose governance to authoritarian influence.

a significant overreach of the U.N.'s mandate and competence [...] AI governance is not a matter for the U.N. to dictate. [...] We will not cede authority over AI to international bodies that may be influenced by authoritarian regimes seeking to impose their vision of controlled …

Lauren Lovelace · Feb 12, 2026 · full quote
We totally reject global governance of AI. We believe AI adoption cannot lead to a brighter future if it is subject to bureaucracies and centralized control. Prioritizing AI for your people does not mean joining international efforts that are either purely symbolic or a sacrifice…

Michael Kratsios · 2026 · full quote
We totally reject all efforts by international bodies to assert centralized control and global governance of AI. [...] Ideological fixations on social equity, climate catastrophism and so-called existential risk are dangers to progress and obstacles to responsibly harnessing this…

Michael Kratsios · Sep 24, 2025 · full quote
We oppose the formation of supra-national oversight bodies in the field of AI.

Dmitry Polyanskiy · 2023 · full quote

Technology-level regulation doubts

A second objection is that regulation should target AI applications, not the underlying technology, research, or development itself. On this view, technology-level oversight is ill-advised and risks obstructing progress in the field.

However, it is important to differentiate regulating applications (which we need) vs. regulating the technology (which is ill-advised).

Andrew Ng · Dec 11, 2023 · full quote
The question that people are debating is whether it makes sense to regulate research and development of AI. And I don't think it does.

Yann LeCun · 2023 · full quote

Middle ground

Cooperate without a new UN body

Some voices support systematic regulation, international conversation, or real-time multistakeholder coordination, but stop short of backing a new UN-led body. They prefer building on existing work, using arrangements answerable to national governments, or exploring alternative models rather than treating a UN or IAEA-style institution as the immediate answer.

The time has come for a more systematic approach to AI regulation — funded by the industry, staffed by world-class technical experts, and answerable to the U.S. government.

Demis Hassabis · Jul 14, 2026 · full quote
We should build on existing international work rather than creating frameworks from scratch.

Government of Australia · Jul 7, 2026 · full quote
As I said, AI does not respect national borders, and I think we will all benefit from hearing and talking to each other in a conversation with the businesses themselves. That is really what this is about. We are a long way from anyone establishing an IAEA equivalent for AI. Those…

Rishi Sunak · Jul 4, 2023 · full quote
That’s a critical, critical aspect of fighting climate change. And with A.I., so much more urgent and fast- moving, you will need an organization like that, a multistakeholder. But another thing we’re calling for is a techno credential approach, like you see in the global financi…

Ian Bremmer · 2023 · full quote
While the IAEA serves several functions that could be desirable in AI governance, there are limitations to blindly applying the IAEA approach to AI.

Akash Wasil · Nov 20, 2024 · full quote

The debate centers less on whether AI has cross-border consequences than on what kind of international governance those consequences justify. Supporters increasingly describe a UN-led architecture as the only universal venue able to coordinate standards, evaluation, and capacity-building, while opponents reject supranational control over AI development and warn against regulating the technology itself. The unresolved question in these quotes is how much authority an international body should hold, and whether the UN is the right institution to hold it.

Source diversity

Support for a UN role appears across UN officials, national governments, and some company or research leaders, while opposition also spans both government and technical voices (15496, 15910, 9363, 8815, 8543).

Cast your vote:

Results (91 votes):

Total (91 votes)

For 80 (88%) Abstain 0 (0%) Against 11 (12%)

For (78)

Clément Delangue
Hugging Face cofounder and CEO

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votes For and says:

AI safety won't be solved by any single company working in secret. It will be solved in the open, collaboratively, with broad access to AI for every defender, everywhere.
AI Verified source (Jul 21, 2026)

added 1mo ago

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Xi Jinping
President of the People's Republic of China.

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votes For and says:

We should practice true multilateralism and recognize the important role of the United Nations. We should enhance alignment and coordination on AI development strategies, governance rules and technical standards, so as to form a consensus-based globa...
more AI Verified source (Jul 17, 2026)

added 1mo ago

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2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference & High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance
Intergovernmental conference on global AI governance held in Shanghai in July 2026.

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votes For and says:

We should practice true multilateralism, play the central role of the U.N. in global governance, pay attention to the fragmentation of global AI governance, and support the U.N. Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scien...
more AI Verified source (Jul 17, 2026)

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Juan Manuel Santos

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votes For and says:

We are deeply concerned that there is currently no binding global governance mechanism for AI. Without effective governance, it will be difficult, impossible, to ensure that AI becomes a force for good, guided by human dignity, responsibility, accoun...
more AI Verified source (Jul 14, 2026)

added 18d ago

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Anna Oosterlinck
UN Representative for the Global Forum for Media Development.

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votes For and says:

This requires a multi-layered governance approach – we need: Public digital infrastructure, including cloud services, that are accessible, affordable, non-discriminatory and human rights compliant by design, driven by communities, including media, in...
more AI Verified source (Jul 8, 2026)

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Onishi Yohei
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.

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votes For and says:

A platform whose establishment was agreed upon at the UN in September 2024, with the objectives of sharing best practices and lessons learned toward international cooperation, and promoting transparent and inclusive discussions on AI governance.
AI Verified source (Jul 8, 2026)

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Meutya Hafid
Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs

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votes For and says:

This dialogue provides important momentum to build inclusive, people-centered global AI governance that is oriented toward development and backed by international cooperation.
AI Verified source (Jul 8, 2026)

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Concordia AI
AI safety and governance social enterprise with offices in Beijing and Singapore.

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votes For and says:

We cannot safely manage a global ecosystem of billions of digital agents without a shared global architecture and standards. The window for proactive governance is narrow.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026) 1 of 2

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Government of China
National government of the People’s Republic of China, speaking through its delegation at the United Nations on artificial intelligence governance.

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votes For and says:

China supports the UN in playing a leading role in global governance of AI and welcomes the establishment of the scientific panel and the global dialogue and the fruitful results achieved.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Shahza Fatima Khawaja
Pakistan's Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication.

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votes For and says:

Inclusion is a voice in writing the rules. Norms, standards, and interoperability frameworks must be authored by both those already at the summit and those who've just started climbing.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Carsten Wildberger
German Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernization.

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votes For and says:

To match this speed, Germany firmly believes that international cooperation is essential to ensuring AI serves humanity as a whole. We must shape AI, because otherwise AI will shape us.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Kirti Bardhan Singh
India's Minister of State for External Affairs.

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votes For and says:

This global dialogue is taking place at the United Nations, which is the world's foremost platform for forging global consensus on issues of shared international concern. Machines do not quarrel over borders, ideology, or pride. Humans do. AI governa...
more AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Roberto Viola
Director-General for Communications, Networks, Content and Technology at the European Commission.

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votes For and says:

A successful first Global Dialogue can lay the foundation for greater international cooperation on AI, which is truly needed in a fast-evolving AI landscape.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Government of France
National government of France, represented at the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

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votes For and says:

UN organizations must play a frontline role in drawing up safety and security standards that are common to us, then disseminating them among states. We must also collectively tackle the issue of independent evaluation of AI models before their rollou...
more AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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United Nations Resident Coordinator Offices
United Nations resident coordinator offices, speaking collectively on AI governance and capacity-building.

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votes For and says:

Inclusive governance must ensure that all countries have the capacity and voice to shape how AI is developed, deployed, and regulated. If interoperability is to deliver development dividends for all countries, some priorities emerge. First, establish...
more AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Government of Japan
Government of Japan speaking through its delegate at the UN Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance in July 2026.

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votes For and says:

Today, approximately 70 countries and regions, including the Global South, have endorsed these principles as the Friends Group, and they share knowledge and experiences related to AI governance and policy in order to achieve trustworthy AI. Leading g...
more AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Government of Brazil
National government of Brazil, speaking through its delegation at the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July 2026.

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votes For and says:

International cooperation should promote technical interoperability, normative convergence where appropriate, capacity building, and mutual trust while recognizing different national and regional realities, levels of technological development, and in...
more AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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European Union
Political and economic union

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votes For and says:

A successful first Global Dialogue can lay the foundation for greater international cooperation on AI, which is truly needed in a fast-evolving AI landscape.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Government of Czechia
Government of Czechia speaking through its deputy foreign minister at the UN Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance in July 2026.

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votes For and says:

AI governance requires global cooperation. The United Nations has an important role as a universal platform, bringing together governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia, the technical community, and civil society.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Government of the Netherlands
National government of the Netherlands, publishing its international strategy for a safe and responsible AI transition.

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votes For and says:

The Netherlands strongly supports the establishment of this dialogue. Our approach is to find the balance between seizing the opportunities of AI and managing its risk.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Li Lecheng
China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology.

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votes For and says:

China has consistently supported the UN as the primary channel for global AI governance and has worked to help bridge the global AI divides.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Gabriela González
Deputy Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the United Nations.

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votes For and says:

In a short period, the community has laid the foundation of emerging United Nations architecture for AI governance. Today, with the publication of the panel that we just recently heard, the dialogue we are witnessing, the first substantive output in ...
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Eunice Luambia
Permanent Representative of Zambia to the United Nations.

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votes For and says:

We call for adherence of the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and respect for international law in building global AI governance. The United Nations should play the central coordinating role in international development cooperation.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Haleki Tchoua Mahamat
Chad's Minister of Telecommunications, Digital Economy, and Digitalization of Public Administration.

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votes For and says:

I would welcome the constant commitment of the United Nations, including the ITU, to help vulnerable countries [...] your role is essential. Chad [...] comes [...] to lead Central Africa and the Sahel in the construction of global governance of AI, w...
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Katy Knight
President and Chief Executive Officer of Siegel Family Endowment.

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votes For and says:

This is where the United Nations has a unique opportunity: as a convener, coordinator and facilitator capable of helping governments, researchers, civil society, philanthropy and industry build the connective tissue that effective AI governance requi...
more AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Government of Ethiopia
National government of Ethiopia, speaking through its delegation at the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July 2026.

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votes For and says:

As AI increasingly transcends borders, interoperability and compatibility of approaches cannot be achieved through isolated national efforts. They require continuous dialogue, mutual trust, and strong multilateral cooperation.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Government of Pakistan
National government of Pakistan, speaking through its delegation at the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July 2026.

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votes For and says:

Pakistan therefore calls for safety norms to be developed through inclusive multilateral processes under the United Nations, where all nations participate as equals.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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Song Haitao
Member of the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and representative of its Working Group 7.

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votes For and says:

The international community must build an equitable and measurable framework. This is our historic mission.
AI Verified source (Jul 6, 2026)

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Abstain (0)

Against (11)

Demis Hassabis
Nobel laureate, AI Researcher and CEO of DeepMind

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votes Against and says:

The time has come for a more systematic approach to AI regulation — funded by the industry, staffed by world-class technical experts, and answerable to the U.S. government.
AI Verified source (Jul 14, 2026)

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Government of Australia
Government of Australia speaking through its delegate at the UN Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance in July 2026.

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votes Against and says:

We should build on existing international work rather than creating frameworks from scratch.
AI Verified source (Jul 7, 2026)

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