Prospects for International Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence

The rapid development of artificial intelligence is reshaping the global order as governments and private companies compete for advantage. Yet, amid this race, international initiatives—such as the Hiroshima AI Process, Paris Action Summit, and AI for Good Summit—have begun to chart pathways for responsible collaboration. These efforts aim to establish shared principles on data governance and transparency, voluntary reporting structures, technical standards for safety and ethics, and inclusive capacity-building that ensures smaller economies and research institutions are not left behind. The UN Secretary General is speaking up about the potential consequences of AI for international security. At the heart of these efforts lies a central challenge: How can transparency and accountability—central themes to any international cooperation—be operationalized to build trust across borders in the military and non-miliary domains? How can the international community ensure that AI supports, rather than undermines, international security? Join Perry World House for a conversation with Amandeep Singh Gill, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, on the future of international cooperation in AI and the UN’s role in shaping frameworks that bridge competition with collaboration.

Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill was appointed Under-Secretary-General and the United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology in June 2022, and since 1 January 2025 serves as Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies. In this role, he spearheads the Secretary-General's strategic initiatives in technology, facilitates coordination across the UN system, and engages with a diverse array of stakeholders and partners globally. He is also a member of the Secretary-General's High Level Advisory Body on AI and of his Scientific Advisory Board. His extensive experience in technology and diplomacy includes serving as Executive Director and co-lead of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation (2018-2019) and as India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva (2016-2018). In recognition of his influential work in the field of artificial intelligence, TIME magazine named Mr. Gill one of the 100 most influential people in AI in 2024.

Michael C. Horowitz is Director of Perry World House and Richard Perry Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also Senior Fellow in Innovation and Technology at the Council on Foreign Relations. From 2022 to 2024, Professor Horowitz served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Development and Emerging Capabilities. He is the author of The Diffusion of Military Power: Causes and Consequences for International Politics, and the co-author of Why Leaders Fight. He won the Karl Deutsch Award given by the International Studies Association for early career contributions to the fields of international relations and peace research. He has published in a wide array of peer reviewed journals and popular outlets. His research interests include the intersection of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics with global politics, military innovation, the role of leaders in international politics, and geopolitical forecasting methodology. Professor Horowitz worked for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy as a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow. He is a life member at the Council on Foreign Relations. Professor Horowitz received his Ph.D. in Government from Harvard University and his B.A. in political science from Emory University.

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