Tech attache briefing: WSIS+20 zero draft and AI capacity building

The event is part of a series of regular briefings the Geneva Internet Platform (GIP) is delivering for diplomats at permanent missions and delegations in Geneva following digital policy issues. It is an invitation-only event

On 4 September, we resumed our briefings for Geneva diplomats with one focused on two important topics on the global digital governance agenda: reviewing 20 years of implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20) and capacity building in artificial intelligence (AI).

We unpacked two documents:

• The WSIS+20 review zero draft. Following multiple consultations over the past few months, the zero draft covers issues such as digital divides, ICT for development, human rights, internet governance and the future of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), as well as links between WSIS and Global Digital Compact (GDC) mechanisms. This draft will be the starting point for negotiations among UN member states, ahead of the December 2025 high-level meeting of the General Assembly.
• The UN Secretary-General’s report on ‘Innovative voluntary financing options for AI capacity building’, requested by member states in the GDC. Among other elements, the report talks about a Global Fund for AI, with an initial target of US$1–3 billion, aimed at helping ensure that all countries have a minimum level of capacity in AI-related skills, compute, data, and models. And it also outlines options for capitalisation (e.g. a ‘voluntary digital infrastructure transaction contribution’) and disbursement of the fund.

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For inquiries, contact us at geneva@diplomacy.edu.