// EQUALITY: DIGITALISATION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
As artificial intelligence advances at unprecedented speed, governance remains fragmented between competing blocs. The G20 Johannesburg Summit is a critical moment to build a cohesive global framework Towards a Johannesburg declaration on AI governance
T he development of artificial intel- ligence is outpacing global governance efforts. The G20 Johan- nesburg Summit offers an opportunity to bridge competing visions of AI governance and demonstrate that multilateral efforts can keep pace with the rate of technologi- cal change. Such efforts to date generally fall into two categories: first, broad-based ini- tiatives at the United Nations aimed at building consensus among its many mem- bers and, second, narrower, issue- or context-specific processes at platforms such as those with the G7. Efforts in the first category, such as the UN General Assembly’s decision in August 2025 to establish the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, reflect the characteristics of ‘universal governance’. They are designed to be inclusive and con- sensus oriented, with the panel providing independent scientific advice and the dialogue creating a forum for broad mul- tilateral engagement. These initiatives go a step beyond purely declaratory state- ments, but risk being slow to respond to global developments if not adequately resourced, given that AI development is well beyond its infancy. Efforts in the second category, such as the code of conduct that emerged from advancing key aspects of AI governance. They nevertheless face familiar criticisms of ‘club governance’ including insuffi- cient inclusivity, the risk of bloc formation and the potential to prompt the creation of parallel organisations. Although not the 2023 G7 Hiroshima Process, offer more concrete pathways for
Chris Alden, professor of international relations, LSE, and Kenddrick Chan, LSE IDEAS
66 // G20 SOUTH AFRICA: THE JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT 2025
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