AI Governance Interoperability Synthesis for the AI Governance for Humanity Lab

The United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (UN ODET) was established on 1 January 2025, with a mandate to: (a) advise the senior leadership of the United Nations on key trends in technology, so as to guide the strategic approach taken by the Organization on such issues; (b) serve as advocate and focal point for digital cooperation, through engagement with Member States, the technology industry, civil society and other stakeholders; (c) facilitate multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on digital and emerging technologies; (d) strengthen system-wide coordination within and across the United Nations system on digital and emerging technologies; (e) support the follow-up and implementation of the Global Digital Compact (A/RES/79/1 Annex 1). Through the Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, UN ODET also leads the implementation of the Secretary-General's vision on digital cooperation by working closely with various UN entities and multi-stakeholder groups, facilitating dialogue to accelerate global digital cooperation, seizing on the opportunities that are presented by technology - while mitigating the risks - so that progress towards achieving the Goals by 2030 can be made collectively, as well as carrying out other related duties and responsibilities assigned by the Secretary-General, including follow up actions from the Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation and the report "Our Common Agenda".

The AI Governance for Humanity Lab is part of an Initiative in support of the realization of the vision put forward by the Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence. Its objectives include mobilizing multistakeholder networks around agile and networked international AI governance as AI technologies evolve, establishing and catalysing new norms of information-sharing between key nodes in these networks and supporting informed and impactful AI cooperation at the global level. As part of this initiative, ODET is seeking volunteers to conduct knowledge synthesis and visualization for a White Paper on AI governance interoperability, which would be provided in advance of the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance within the United Nations in July 2026. The white paper seeks to map the current state of play, outline key structural challenges, and identify pathways to support inclusive and interoperable governance approaches. These insights would help to inform policymakers as dialogue on AI governance unfolds at the global level. The Online Volunteer will work closely with ODET's Programme Management Officer (Head of the AI Governance for Humanity Lab) and will have the opportunity to contribute to a flagship UN initiative in the digital governance space.

Under the guidance of the Programme Management Officer (Head of the AI Governance for Humanity Lab), the Online Volunteer will: Research (two volunteers): - Support the mapping of: National, regional, and international AI governance approaches, regulatory philosophies and institutional models, existing international frameworks and standards around the world, and emerging trends in the ecosystem, using written input provided by a group of experts as well as other relevant sources like the OECD AI policy tool. Consultations and Synthesis (three volunteers): - Attend online expert workshops and capture key discussion threads and open tensions, note shifts in perspectives between workshops, - Summarize insights in neutral, synthesis ready language. - Help ensure that diverse inputs are reflected without forcing consensus, consistent with the co‑production ethos of the Lab Report Preparation (three volunteers): - Create visual artefacts such as: Maps of the global AI governance “patchwork”, infographics and diagrams showing fragmentation vs. interoperability dynamics, visual representations of regulatory philosophies - Draft connective text between sections and parts to ensure coherence across Part I (State of Play) and Part II (Pathways) Estimated deliverables: - Synthesis chapter drafts for the White Paper, in coordination with the Lab - 1 set of White Papervisuals, diagrams, maps to enhance the readability of the White Paper taking into account the multi-stakeholder target audience at the Global Dialogue - 3-5 short policy briefs for public dissemination at Geneva and other policy settings - Slide decks for Geneva and other policy settings