AI for Good Global Summit 2025: A Platform for Inclusive and Responsible Innovation
The AI for Good Global Summit 2025, held in Geneva, marks a significant milestone in the global conversation on artificial intelligence. Over four days, this high-level event brings together a diverse array of stakeholders, including governments, technology leaders, academics, civil society representatives, and young innovators. The summit aims to explore how AI can be harnessed to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while mitigating risks such as inequality, disinformation, and environmental degradation.
The AI Generation: A Call for Collective Responsibility
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), emphasized the importance of collective action during her keynote address. “We are the AI generation,” she said, highlighting that being part of this era requires more than just using AI technologies. It involves contributing to a broader effort of upskilling across all stages of life, from early education to lifelong learning. This call to action underscores the need for inclusive strategies that ensure no one is left behind in the AI revolution.
Addressing the Risks of Rapid AI Development
As AI systems evolve at an unprecedented pace, concerns about their potential risks have grown. Bogdan-Martin warned that the biggest threat lies not in AI replacing humans but in its widespread deployment without adequate understanding or oversight. With the emergence of “agentic AI” capable of autonomous reasoning and decision-making, the urgency for robust regulatory frameworks has never been greater. Experts predict that human-level AI could be achieved within the next three years, intensifying debates around safety, bias, energy consumption, and the capacity of existing regulations to keep up.
Cutting-Edge Demonstrations and Collaborative Workshops
The summit features an impressive lineup of demonstrations and workshops, reflecting the multifaceted nature of AI innovation. Over 20,000 square meters of exhibit space at Palexpo hosts more than 200 interactive displays, ranging from flying cars and fish-inspired water quality monitors to brain-computer interfaces and AI-driven disaster response tools. These exhibits provide a glimpse into the future of technology and its potential applications.
Workshops throughout the week cover a wide range of topics, from AI in healthcare and education to ethics, gender inclusion, and global governance. One of the key highlights is AI Governance Day on Thursday, where national regulators and international organizations will discuss the urgent need for coordinated global oversight. An ITU survey revealed that 85% of countries lack an AI-specific policy or strategy, raising concerns about uneven development and deepening digital divides.
Focusing on Health and Innovation
Healthcare is a central theme of this year’s summit. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) will lead a session titled “Enabling AI for Health Innovation and Access,” bringing together technologists, regulators, clinicians, and humanitarian leaders. The session will explore how AI can improve healthcare delivery, particularly in low-resource settings. Real-world applications, such as AI-powered triage in emergency care and diagnostic tools for rural clinics, will be showcased. WHO will also preview its upcoming Technical Brief on AI in Traditional Medicine, set to launch during the main event.
Experts will also examine challenges related to interoperability, regulatory harmonization, and intellectual property rights at the intersection of AI and global health. The summit will feature the AI for Good Awards, which recognize innovative projects that use AI for public benefit, with categories spanning people, planet, and prosperity.
Launchpad for Action and Youth Engagement
The health track exemplifies the summit’s core goal: ensuring that AI serves the public good, especially in areas of greatest need. Youth-led robotics teams from underserved communities will present solutions for disaster recovery and waste management, while startups compete in the Innovation Factory to showcase AI tools for education and climate resilience.
Live demonstrations include an autonomous orchard robot, a self-sanitizing mobile toilet, and a drone-eDNA system for scalable biodiversity and pest monitoring. These innovations highlight the potential of AI to address pressing global challenges.
A Shared Responsibility for the Future of AI
In closing her keynote, Bogdan-Martin reminded participants that the future of AI is a shared responsibility. “Let’s never stop putting AI at the service of all people and our planet,” she said. This message resonates deeply as the world navigates the complexities of AI development, emphasizing the need for collaboration, inclusivity, and ethical considerations in shaping the future of this transformative technology.