The United Nations’ top technology official, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, emphasized the pressing need for a coordinated global strategy to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) during an interview with AFP this week. As the head of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), she cautioned that fragmented approaches to AI governance could exacerbate risks and widen global inequalities, urging a unified framework to ensure AI serves humanity’s best interests.

Bogdan-Martin expressed hope that AI could drive transformative benefits across sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture. However, she highlighted growing concerns about its potential downsides, including widespread job displacement, the proliferation of deepfakes, and the erosion of societal trust due to disinformation. “There’s an urgency to… get the right framework in place,” she stressed, advocating for a global dialogue to shape AI regulation.

Her remarks come in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a bold AI strategy focused on deregulation to maintain a competitive edge over China. The plan, encompassing over 90 proposals, aims to eliminate regulatory barriers to accelerate private-sector AI innovation. Bogdan-Martin, declining to directly critique the U.S. approach, noted she was still reviewing the plan but underscored the importance of dialogue among diverse regulatory models, including those of the European Union and China.

Currently, 85% of countries lack formal AI policies or strategies, according to Bogdan-Martin. While existing frameworks often prioritize innovation and infrastructure, she emphasized that the global community must address the critical question of how much regulation is necessary to balance progress with safety. The ITU, a Geneva-based agency with a long history of setting technology standards, is well-positioned to foster this global conversation, she argued.

Bogdan-Martin warned that disjointed regulatory efforts could deepen disparities, particularly for nations and communities unable to compete in the AI race. She highlighted the risk of AI becoming a force for “advancing inequalities,” especially given the 2.6 billion people worldwide who lack internet access and, consequently, AI access. Addressing this digital divide is essential to ensuring AI benefits are equitably shared, she noted.

As the first woman to lead the ITU in its nearly 160-year history, Bogdan-Martin also called for greater gender inclusion in AI and digital fields. “We have a huge gap,” she said, pointing to the underrepresentation of women in AI development. Reflecting on her role, the 59-year-old New Jersey native and mother of four described breaking the glass ceiling as a “big honor” but acknowledged the pressure to “overachieve” in paving the way for future generations.

Backed by the Trump administration for re-election as her four-year term nears its end in 2026, Bogdan-Martin expressed enthusiasm for continuing her work. “There is a lot to do,” she said, reaffirming her commitment to steering global AI governance toward inclusivity and equity.