International AI Summits Are Failing – AIGN as the Driving Force for Ethical AI Governance

The global discussion on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is gaining momentum.

International summits, such as the AI Action Summit in Paris, aim to establish guidelines for responsible AI governance—but they often fall short of expectations. Instead of real progress, conflicting national interests, an imbalance in represented stakeholders, and a lack of concrete measures dominate. The Artificial Intelligence Governance Network (AIGN) addresses this gap, offering an independent, action-oriented alternative to shaping a sustainable and ethical AI governance framework.

Why International AI Summits Are Failing

International AI summits face fundamental challenges that obstruct effective global AI governance:

• Conflicting National Interests: The AI Action Summit in Paris once again highlighted that major players such as the U.S. and China primarily focus on maintaining technological dominance. U.S. Vice President JD Vance explicitly stated that the U.S. "must remain the leading nation in AI" and warned against "overly cautious" regulations. Such positions hinder the establishment of unified global standards.
• Overrepresentation of Industry: Although the Paris summit gathered representatives from nearly 100 countries and over 1,000 participants from business and civil society, industry stakeholders dominated the discussions. Corporations favor minimal regulation, while ethical and societal concerns are often sidelined.
• Neglect of Human Rights: Despite repeated UN calls for AI governance to be rooted in human rights, this aspect was barely addressed in Paris. The focus remained on economic opportunities rather than risks to democracy, privacy, and social justice.
• Divergent Regulatory Approaches: While the EU pushes for strict regulation through the AI Act, the U.S. and the UK favor more relaxed measures. These disparities led the U.S. and the UK to refuse to sign the summit’s final declaration.
• Lack of Concrete Measures: Despite grand announcements like the "Current AI" initiative with an initial $400 million investment, binding implementation strategies remain absent. Summits frequently yield statements of intent rather than concrete action plans.
• Fragmented Global AI Governance: AI governance remains a patchwork of national regulations. The Global South is often underrepresented, resulting in unbalanced decision-making. The Paris summit showed some effort to engage these regions, but much more needs to be done.

AIGN: The Answer to the Failures of Global AI Summits

The Artificial Intelligence Governance Network (AIGN) is stepping in to address these deficits. With 800 members worldwide, AIGN provides an independent, interdisciplinary platform for AI governance that goes beyond regulatory compliance. The goal: To build a global, action-oriented network that actively promotes ethical, transparent, and accountable AI governance.

The Vision of AIGN

AIGN follows a holistic approach that integrates ethical principles, scientific expertise, and regulatory requirements. The network focuses on six core areas:

1. Global Ethics & Governance: Developing and promoting international standards for ethical AI that maximize both innovation and societal benefits.
2. Actionable Community: A network of leading experts who do more than discuss challenges—they develop and implement concrete solutions.
3. Regulatory Bridge: Assisting businesses and governments in navigating complex frameworks such as the EU AI Act, the EU Data Act, and comparable global regulations.
4. Responsible AI Implementation: Establishing best practices to ensure AI systems are human-centric, transparent, and accountable.
5. Education & Knowledge Sharing: Providing expertise through webinars, whitepapers, workshops, and publications to equip decision-makers with informed AI governance strategies.
6. Sustainable AI Value Creation: Advocating for an AI economy built on trust, security, and fairness—rather than short-term profit maximization without ethical consideration.

Where is AIGN Heading?

AIGN is not just about discussions—it delivers concrete solutions. Long-term goals include:

• Expanding the member base and strengthening global presence
• Supporting research projects and developing new AI governance guidelines
• Partnering with international organizations to establish unified ethical standards
• Creating a global AI ethics competence center to advise businesses and governments

Join AIGN – Shape the Future of AI Governance!

If you want to actively contribute to the future of AI governance, become a part of AIGN! Our network connects leading experts, decision-makers, and organizations to foster ethical and sustainable AI development.

?? Join our LinkedIn Group: AI Governance & Ethics Network ?? Learn more & become a member: AIGN Global

For further inquiries or collaboration opportunities, feel free to contact me directly via my LinkedIn profile: Patrick Upmann

Be part of it—together, we are shaping a responsible and sustainable AI future!