Global South Demands Role in AI Governance

Cameroon’s minister of posts and telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, opened a forum at the World AI Conference in Shanghai urging the Global South to actively participate in shaping AI governance, rather than simply consuming foreign technologies. She argued that sustainable AI governance requires the effective participation of all countries.

Discussions at the session, co-hosted by Fudan University, highlighted the digital divide, with former ITU secretary-general Zhao Houlin noting 2.2 billion people still lack internet access, a fundamental requirement for AI development. Experts also warned that corporate interests may not align with public benefit, and that independent governance is crucial.

Several initiatives were launched including a Global AI Governance Index covering 40 economies and a UN-backed network to develop AI capacity. However, participants acknowledged that a single initiative will not be sufficient to address the systemic issues where a few nations invent, one regulates, and the rest consume. The hope is to evolve this system toward co-creation, co-regulation, and co-consumption of AI.