Artificial Intelligence

Geneva as the Capital of AI Governance

Three international conferences on digital technologies, AI and internet governance once again made Geneva the world capital of artificial intelligence in July 2026.

12,000 participants took part in more than 300 sessions featuring 1,000 speakers from civil society, business and politics. Heads of state and digital ministers from 177 countries discussed risks, opportunities and regulatory issues at the world’s first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, Apple, Alibaba, LinkedIn, Sony, TikTok and other companies were represented at a senior level, alongside representatives of think tanks, civil society and the media. The FNF Human Rights Hub was actively involved. Here is a first-hand account:

Together with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and our partner organisation the Geneva Human Rights Hub, we organised a side event on AI in human rights monitoring. Our guest, Daniel Kuhagen, Secretary General of the FDP Bavaria, spent three days engaging with AI experts and entrepreneurs. Five FNF scholarship holders from Switzerland specialising in AI, technology and ethics supported our stand at the AI and robotics exhibition. It was an excellent venue for launching our publication on AI and justice. Visitors also had the opportunity to explore recent AI-related publications from FNF offices around the world.

We came away from the AI for Good Summit with some interesting observations:

One of the dominant themes was Gen Z’s anxiety about entering the workforce and building a career. The role and individual responsibility of human beings as thinking and acting agents were repeatedly emphasised, across sectors—from the private sector to public service—and remained a central theme throughout the four days.

The statements made by the digital ministers in attendance focused on future scenarios, the latest AI strategies and their implementation. The limited presence of German companies and representatives from politics and think tanks underscored that Germany currently plays only a marginal role in global AI governance. It has been clear since last year that China is emerging not only as a major global AI player, but also as a funder and “empowerer” of countries in the Global South. In China’s rhetoric, AI policy is increasingly replacing its previous development policy approach. The goal remains the same: to keep countries in the Global South closely dependent on China.

Alongside Japan, China, the United States and the Canton of Geneva – Kazakhstan was the only other country with a large stand. The country presented itself as an open-minded AI bridge-builder: innovative, climate-friendly, with an impressive approach to AI education in schools and advanced implementation of AI across different policy areas.

By the end of the week, around 550 participants had visited our stand and held one-to-one conversations with us about AI and human rights. The FNF was the only political foundation represented on site.