ITU chief warns fragmented AI regulation risks widening global inequalities
As AI advances rapidly, ITU’s top official calls for coordinated global regulation to prevent fragmentation, deepen cooperation, and ensure benefits reach all of humanity.
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has called for an urgent global approach to regulating AI. Speaking in Geneva, the Secretary-General warned that fragmented national strategies risk exacerbating existing inequalities and undermining efforts to harness AI for the global good.
Currently, over 85 percent of countries lack national AI strategies. While existing policies often stress innovation and capacity-building, the question of regulatory scope remains unresolved. Bogdan-Martin pointed to the growing divide between models pursued by the EU, China, and the US, and called for greater dialogue to reconcile differing approaches.
The ITU chief stressed that AI’s benefits, from healthcare to education, must be shared globally. With 2.6 billion people still offline, access remains a fundamental barrier. Without addressing this digital divide, Bogdan-Martin warned, AI risks reinforcing global inequities. She also highlighted the gender gap in the AI sector, calling for more women to enter the field.
Why This Matters:
Without a coordinated international framework, AI development may deepen global disparities and become dominated by a few powerful actors. A global approach can ensure responsible innovation, prevent regulatory gaps, and promote inclusive access to AI’s benefits.
