G7 performance on artificial intelligence, information technology and digitalisation
As artificial intelligence, digitalisation and quantum technologies rise up the G7 agenda, strengthening compliance, interoperability and governance will be critical to effective global digital leadership
since 2009. Leaders have produced 25,886 words on these topics in their communiqués, averaging 517 words (for 13% of the total) per summit. The issue was mentioned briefly in 2000 as ‘‘bridging the digi- tal divide’’, and at every summit from 2009 onwards except in 2010, 2012 and 2020. Leaders’ focus on these issues has grown since: between 2014 and 2025, the G7 averaged 1,867 words per summit on them. The 2025 summit had the most with 2,157 words (43%). The 2023 summit produced 3,927 words (13%), with the highest number of words – which would have been even higher had the Hiroshima AI Process been launched at the summit in May rather than in October. COMMITMENTS G7 summits have now produced 332 future-oriented, politically binding, collective commitments on ICT, digitalisation, AI and quantum. Together they rank 14th, slightly behind macroeconomic policy with 339 commitments. Most of these commitments – 271 – were made since 2016, averaging 27 per summit during these years. The first time AI commitments appeared was in 2018, with 23. Then the 2023 summit produced 37 commitments, the most on these sub- jects to that time. In 2025, G7 leaders produced a new peak of a record 70 commitments on AI, quan- tum, digitalisation and ICT, and pioneered the global summit governance of quantum technology. The 2024 and 2025 summits made the most com- mitments on AI over and above any other technology-related commitments. Here AI took over 85% of the 33 technology-related commitments in 2024 and just over 67% of the 70 in 2025. COMPLIANCE G7 members’ compliance with their leaders’ commit-
Nancy E Scott, legal director, G7 Research Group
A t the 2025 Kananaskis Summit, G7 lead- ers took significant steps in multilateral digital technology governance. The summit produced concrete, actionable initiatives and frameworks for information and commu- nications technology, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and quantum – including new work- ing groups and clear mandates for international collaboration and standard setting. These actions aimed to ensure growth, resilience and compet- itiveness in members, with attention to global inclusion and security. Quantum was raised as a significant strategic priority for the first time, resulting in the Kananaskis Common Vision for the Future of Quantum Technologies. It high- lighted quantum’s potential for economic and national security benefits and risk management, especially in areas such as health, finance and energy. The 2026 Évian Summit under French leadership is expected to focus on improving AI safety and on establishing strong international governance for AI and quantum innovation, securing supply chains and critical infrastruc- ture for both energy and the digital transition, as well as addressing common principles for online safety for minors and the digital divide. This marks a clear evolution to more operational, inclusive and security-conscious digital technol- ogy policy within the G7. DELIBERATION ICT, digitalisation, AI and quantum have assumed growing significance on the G7 agenda
114 // G7 FRANCE: THE ÉVIAN SUMMIT 2026
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