Industry Practice Research for the AI Governance for Humanity Lab Initiative

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 research and analysis and draft a report on industry experiences with the practice of AI governance, which would be provided in advance of the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance within the United Nations in July 2026. The report would focus on generating insights from leading industry players across multiple geographies that have direct experience in translating AI legislation and regulation into internal technology policies, design choices and technical interventions. 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 Initiation (Two volunteer): - Develop a structured research implementation plan to answer research questions defined by ODET that align with the primary themes outlined by the Co-Chairs of the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance and intersects with technology industry practices, covering conceptualization and proposed methodology - Conduct desk research and analysis into industry experience translating relevant AI legislation and regulation into internal technology policies, design choices and technical interventions Consultations (Two volunteers) - Conduct interviews with industry interlocutors to gather information informing the research, approximately 20 in total. - Develop workshop programmes for convening leading industry players across multiple geographies that have direct experience in the implementation of AI governance - As applicable, conceptualize and host virtual semi-structured interviews with relevant industry experts to supplement workshop programmes Synthesis (One Volunteer) - As applicable, formulate questions for online questionnaires to collect additional industry input asynchronously. - Gather and synthesize information received during workshops, consultations, and interviews into a compendium. Report Preparation (One volunteer): - Support the certation of a conceptual framework for a report focused on the topical research question identified. - Draft report inputs, including language, visuals and technical materials as requested. - Where applicable, work closely with team to edit and format report for external audiences. Estimated deliverables (Combined): 1-15 workshop programmes for convening leading industry players across multiple geographies that have direct experience in the implementation of AI governance 0-30 virtual semi-structured interviews with relevant industry experts to supplement workshop programmes 1 compendium synthesizing workshop, interview and consultation outcomes 1 conceptual framework for a report focused on the topical research question identified 1 set of report inputs, including language, visuals and technical materials