Amandeep Singh Gill, the United Nations secretary-general’s special envoy on technology, said that artificial intelligence governance is currently fragmented across multiple forums, creating challenges for coherent global standards and policies. He discussed this in the context of recent international AI debates, including the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. Gill noted that the proliferation of independent conversations — from regional summits to national regulatory efforts — has led to uneven approaches to governance, regulation, and technological development.
Gill emphasised that engagement with the private sector is essential because many AI systems are being developed and deployed by commercial actors amid gaps in national legislation. He highlighted the importance of understanding how companies are applying governance practices on an operational level, since this can help fill regulatory voids where public frameworks are still emerging. Gill suggested that collaboration with industry could help harmonise practical governance practices with broader legal norms.
A central concern for Gill is ensuring that innovation benefits the Global South, not just wealthy, technology-leading nations. He expressed that lower-income countries must be part of shaping AI’s future rather than remaining passive consumers of technology developed elsewhere. According to Gill, meaningful participation and diverse representation in global AI governance — including through initiatives like the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI — can help shift power and opportunity toward underrepresented regions.
While Gill supports multilateral governance mechanisms, he also acknowledged that they must complement private-sector innovation rather than stifle it. The envoy argued for balanced, science-led governance that accelerates beneficial AI deployment while anticipating risks like economic inequality, labour displacement, and systemic bias. His views underscore a growing effort within the UN to build participatory, inclusive, and practical AI governance frameworks that leverage both public and private sector insights.
