Developing countries have stepped up calls to be treated as equal partners in shaping rules for artificial intelligence (AI). At a UN meeting in New York last week, 128 delegations spoke on the issue — a sharp rise from just five delegations four years ago — underscoring how the debate has intensified.
Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said bluntly that developing countries cannot be confined to the role of mere users of technologies developed elsewhere, nor should they be passive recipients of rules they did not help create. She warned that the technological transformation of the 21st century must not replicate past decades’ economic inequalities.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres drew a parallel between AI and climate change discussions, arguing that both issues require equal voice for developing countries. Guterres and leaders from the global South urged coordinated global action rather than isolated national responses.
Leaders of major AI developers also addressed the Security Council session on AI. Sam Altman, representing OpenAI, and Dario Amodei, head of Anthropic, both emphasized the need for cooperation among governments.
International organisations have highlighted both opportunities and prerequisites for equitable gains. A World Bank report last month suggested that, if developing countries act quickly to address shortfalls in energy supply, digital connectivity and skills, AI could enable them to achieve a century’s worth of progress within a single decade. The International Monetary Fund said in July that, under appropriate conditions, AI could expand sub‑Saharan Africa’s economy by about 4 percent over the next decade.
Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño took a nuanced stance, noting that with good governance AI can broaden access to knowledge and improve public services, whereas poor governance could deepen inequalities, increase vulnerability and eliminate large numbers of jobs.
By contrast, US President Donald Trump expressed skepticism, calling warnings about AI risks a “scam” and a “sick conspiracy theory.” He likened those warnings to what he described as earlier, exaggerated climate alarmism.
The outcome of this debate has tangible consequences: whether developing countries participate in setting AI rules will influence whether AI reduces or exacerbates global inequalities. The issue is likely to see further discussion in the coming months; it will also be addressed at the Portfolio AI & Digital Transformation conference scheduled for November 26.
(This article was prepared with assistance from an AI tool; the final content was edited and verified by our journalist.)
