Rwandan President Paul Kagame has been appointed by the United Nations as Co-Chair of the newly established AI for Good Global Commission, a high-level international body created to guide the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence while ensuring that the benefits of emerging technologies are shared more equitably across the world. The appointment places Rwanda at the center of one of the most significant global conversations on technology, innovation, and sustainable development, reflecting the country’s growing reputation as a leader in digital transformation and forward-looking governance.
The commission was established through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialized agency responsible for information and communication technologies. President Kagame will co-chair the commission alongside Marc Benioff, Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-Founder of Salesforce. The commission’s Vice Chair is Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the ITU, who has been a leading advocate for expanding digital connectivity and ensuring that technological progress benefits people in every region of the world.
The AI for Good Global Commission brings together an influential group of more than 40 leaders representing governments, international organizations, global technology companies, academic institutions, business enterprises, and development organizations. Its membership reflects a broad range of expertise in public policy, innovation, finance, telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence. Among its founding members are Estonian President Alar Karis, Icelandic President Halla Tómasdóttir, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Lerato Dorothy Mataboge, Amazon President and CEO Andy Jassy, NVIDIA Founder and CEO Jensen Huang, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, Google executive James Manyika, Anthropic Co-founder Jack Clark, Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon, Pfizer Chairman and CEO Dr. Albert Bourla, WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo, and senior executives from leading organizations including Accenture, FedEx, MTN Group, Vodafone, Orange, Roche, Reliance Industries, Grab, GSMA, ZTE, Cohere, Sakana AI, and many others.
The commission has been tasked with developing practical recommendations that encourage the safe, ethical, and inclusive deployment of artificial intelligence while promoting international cooperation on AI governance. Its work will focus on expanding access to AI technologies, encouraging innovation that addresses global challenges, supporting responsible standards for AI development, and helping developing nations strengthen their digital capabilities so they can fully participate in the rapidly evolving technology landscape. Another important objective is to reduce the widening technological gap between advanced and developing economies by encouraging investment, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and partnerships that make AI more accessible worldwide.
President Kagame’s appointment reflects Rwanda’s continued commitment to digital innovation and technology-driven development. Over the past several years, Rwanda has invested heavily in expanding digital infrastructure, promoting innovation, modernizing public services, strengthening broadband connectivity, and positioning itself as a regional hub for emerging technologies. The country has also pursued policies aimed at increasing digital literacy, encouraging entrepreneurship, and integrating advanced technologies into sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and public administration. These efforts have earned Rwanda increasing recognition in international discussions on technology and sustainable development.
The AI for Good Global Commission is expected to play an important role in shaping international dialogue as governments and industries seek balanced approaches that encourage innovation while addressing concerns related to ethics, transparency, privacy, security, and equitable access. As artificial intelligence continues to transform economies, labor markets, healthcare systems, education, scientific research, and public services, the commission aims to ensure that technological progress contributes to sustainable development and improves the quality of life for communities around the world rather than widening existing inequalities.
The commission will officially begin its work during the AI for Good Global Summit 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland. The summit is expected to bring together heads of state, ministers, technology executives, researchers, entrepreneurs, and international organizations to discuss the future of artificial intelligence, establish collaborative frameworks for responsible AI governance, and explore practical solutions that enable countries at every stage of development to benefit from one of the most transformative technologies of the modern era. With President Kagame serving as Co-Chair, Rwanda will have a prominent voice in helping guide global discussions on how artificial intelligence can be developed and applied responsibly to advance innovation, economic opportunity, and sustainable development for people across the world.
