The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) high-level week recently convened in New York City under the theme of “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.” This year’s UNGA focused on the Summit of the Future, a series of discussions aimed at creating a sustainable and prosperous world. The event also addressed potential reforms in international peace and security, along with the role of the UN and global cooperation. The result of this summit is the crucial “Pact for the Future,” negotiated by all UN member states.
Microsoft sees this as an opportunity to provide the benefits of the new AI economy. Alongside other private sector innovators, Microsoft aims to be a reliable partner in making progress towards these goals. Discussions at the UNGA highlighted the impact of digital technology on society, with a core element of the “Pact for the Future” being the Global Digital Compact (GDC). This resolution, agreed upon by every UN Member State, establishes a framework for international action on topics like AI and Data Governance, privacy, and global connectivity. The GDC aims to build trust and safety across the online ecosystem.
The GDC is an opportunity to engage with the ongoing creation of a new AI economy that could bring opportunity to the entire world.
Microsoft believes that the advantages of AI and other technologies need to reach all countries, not just the wealthiest. The company is committed to preventing the errors of past technological revolutions, where transformative technologies did not spread widely enough. Microsoft is working to close the global digital divide, which could play a central role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Increasing internet access will allow for greater participation in education, work, and health. Digital inclusion can foster secure online practices that align with fundamental rights and freedoms. A thriving AI economy can create opportunities for global citizens while solving problems in areas such as health, education, financial inclusion, and critical public services.
Microsoft is dedicated to making AI accessible to everyone and closing the digital divide, especially in the Global South. The International Telecommunication Union estimates that one-third of the world remains offline, a figure that rises to two-thirds of the population in Africa. Microsoft is currently investing billions in countries like Kenya, Indonesia, and the Philippines to improve infrastructure, cybersecurity capabilities, digital skills, nonprofit support, and local R&D. The company’s digital skills initiatives have trained 14.1 million people worldwide in essential digital and AI skills. Furthermore, Microsoft plans to empower 26 million people to use and develop AI tools through its AI skilling initiatives, including offering training to 5 million people from underserved communities, with a special focus on youth, women, rural areas, and the Global South.
In just the last year, Microsoft provided $4.7 billion in grants and discounted software and services. In addition, the Microsoft Airband Initiative is working to connect 250 million unserved and underserved people, including 100 million in Africa, by 2025. This effort is also expanding in countries, including Kenya, DRC, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, and India. The Microsoft AI for Good Lab is also expanding to Abu Dhabi; here, a team of local data scientists will work to drive AI innovation to tackle societal problems.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres views the Summit of the Future as an important step towards more effective multilateralism. Stakeholders, including youth, civil society, and businesses, are joining this journey, and for Microsoft, the opportunities for engagement have never been greater. The GDC was planned, prepared, and negotiated over the past eighteen months. Microsoft is proud to have been the only private sector participant to contribute its views during all stakeholder opportunities.
AI governance has attracted significant stakeholder input and will play a prominent role at this year’s UNGA. The UN’s High-Level Advisory Body (HLAB) on Artificial Intelligence has released its final report following two General Assembly resolutions on AI earlier this year. Microsoft has advocated for responsible development, deployment, and use of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI and supports a shared understanding of AI’s risks and benefits. The company has also emphasized achieving interoperability and inclusive progress to maximize the benefits of AI. Microsoft captured some of its viewpoints in the book “Global Governance: Goals and Lessons for AI.”
The UNGA and the HLAB report are important steps in the journey. Over the coming months, Microsoft will continue to host discussions with global stakeholders, including through its Global Perspectives Fellowships Program, regarding frameworks and progress in AI governance. With the UN more than halfway to its 2030 deadline for achieving the SDGs, Microsoft is increasing its efforts.
Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab has demonstrated tangible progress in fields like healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability. The UN and International Organizations team has been convening UN stakeholders across New York and Geneva to discuss how digital technologies can be used to help achieve the SDGs. Here are some of these engagements, designed to expand opportunity, foster trust, protect fundamental rights, and advance sustainability:
- SDG8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Microsoft, along with the Canadian and Chilean Permanent Missions to the UN, brought together UN leaders to discuss AI workforce trends and ways that AI skills and digital learning can improve opportunities for decent work for all. The meeting provided valuable insights, demonstrations, and group work on Copilot and LinkedIn Learning pathways.
- SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: In an election year, Microsoft and GZERO Media gathered UN stakeholders to analyze the deepfake landscape, helping government officials and UN staff understand the risks of using deceptive AI in elections.
- SDG13: Climate Change: Microsoft and the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) hosted a roundtable discussion on the private sector’s role in supporting climate action, with the Global Pact for the Future. The discussion highlighted the need to use every tool at our disposal, including AI, to address climate change, and looked at how the private sector could collaborate further with the UN.
- SDG 5: Gender Equality: During the UN 68th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), Microsoft led discussions on gender equality in the age of AI. They explored online gender-based violence, risks and opportunities for female political leaders, and the importance of women in STEM and as innovation leaders.
- SDG10: Reducing Inequalities: During the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP17), Microsoft and the Permanent Mission of Mexico discussed how AI and data-driven technologies can help advance the common good while fostering safe and secure practices aligned with fundamental rights and freedoms.
