UNGA 2025: Lessons from a Defining Week for Digital

The 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was one of the most digitally charged gatherings in its history. Across formal sessions and high-level dialogues, artificial intelligence and digital transformation were woven into nearly every discussion.

Here are three key reflections from the week:

1. US companies set the pace

This year, it was US companies that led the charge on AI and digital issues. While governments debated cautiously, technology players stepped forward with energy, ideas, and commitments.

Their contributions underscore a shift: industry is actively shaping the global conversation, rather than waiting for policymakers. Whether in multilateral halls or convenings, US firms visibly positioned themselves as partners in solving global challenges – from climate and energy to health and finance. This private-sector leadership signals both opportunity and responsibility: companies can accelerate impact, but they also need frameworks that ensure accountability and inclusivity.

2. AI was everywhere, but urgency was not

If one theme defined UNGA 2025, it was AI. It surfaced in every room, across every theme, and in nearly every conversation. The UN’s High-Level Dialogue on Global AI Governance marked a milestone: for the first time, governments, companies, and civil society representatives shared the same stage to debate what responsible AI governance should entail, signalling the establishment of an institutional framework through the creation of a new International Scientific Panel on AI. It was commendable to see the voices of the public, private, and civil society sectors come together. The diversity of inputs matters – it ensures that governance discussions are not confined to capitals or boardrooms but rather reflect the concerns and aspirations of many.

While AI governance is on the agenda, urgency and coherence are still lagging. The world has mechanisms on paper; now it needs momentum in practice. A top-down global framework remains far away, as stakeholders hold different views on pathways, timelines, and priorities. That diversity of perspectives means consensus will take time. The Dialogue set the stage, and the real test will be how quickly it translates into actionable principles and coherent structures.

3. AI as connective tissue across health, energy, and finance

AI wasn’t siloed at UNGA – it was the through-line across the Assembly’s most urgent themes:

• Health: From pandemic preparedness to equitable access, AI is reshaping diagnostics and supply chains. As part of Digital @ UNGA, Access Partnership collaborated with the Atlantic Council to host a high-level roundtable examining how to govern high-stakes AI in healthcare, safeguarding patients while enabling innovation.
• Energy & Climate: Whether nuclear, renewables, or efficiency, AI optimisation and forecasting were central to discussions of transition and affordability.
• Finance & Development: Digital identity, fintech, and cross-border flows were repeatedly tied to AI-driven inclusion and risk management.

This shift of treating AI as the underlying foundation is profound. It signals that AI is now at the core of solving global challenges, but also raises the stakes for getting governance right.

Looking ahead

UNGA 2025 showed us that:

• Industry is leading, but frameworks must follow.
• Global governance is in motion, though consensus is distant.
• Diversity of voices matters – governance that excludes civil society or smaller economies will not endure.
• AI is no longer a niche issue – it is the connective tissue of our collective future.

UNGA 2025 was the moment AI became central to global diplomacy. The task now is to ensure its governance is as global, inclusive, and forward-looking as the technology itself.