Global AI governance requires multilateral oversight to address systemic risks and power imbalances
Original framing: “Why the world needs the UN to keep an eye on AI” — The Conversation - Global
Historically, attempts to regulate emerging technologies—such as the control of nuclear weapons or the internet—have often been dominated by powerful states and corporations, leading to uneven enforcement and ethical blind spots. These precedents reveal the limitations of relying solely on international institutions for oversight.
AI governance cannot be reduced to a technical or regulatory problem; it is a deeply political and ethical challenge shaped by historical patterns of power and exclusion.
The UN's role must be reimagined to include marginalized voices, indigenous knowledge, and cross-cultural perspectives, rather than reinforcing the dominance of Western institutions. By integrating scientific rigor, artistic imagination, and future modeling, we can develop governance frameworks that prioritize justice, sustainability, and equity. The trickster reminds us that the current system is not neutral—it is a product of colonial and capitalist logics that must be disrupted through inclusive, participatory, and decolonial approaches.