AI policy explorer

UN General Assembly resolution 78/265 on safe, secure and trustworthy AI

UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/78/265: Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development (21 March 2024)

The first General Assembly resolution on AI, adopted by consensus with more than 120 co-sponsors, encourages states to promote safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems that respect human rights and advance the Sustainable Development Goals, to close digital divides, and to develop governance frameworks and interoperable safeguards; it calls on companies to act responsibly. It was followed by resolution A/RES/79/325 (August 2025) establishing an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance under the Global Digital Compact.

UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI

UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (adopted by the General Conference, 23 November 2021)

The first global normative instrument on AI ethics. It sets values (human rights and dignity, environment and ecosystem flourishing, diversity and inclusiveness, peaceful and just societies) and principles (proportionality and do no harm, safety and security, fairness, sustainability, privacy, human oversight, transparency and explainability, responsibility, awareness and literacy, multi-stakeholder governance), and eleven policy action areas from ethical impact assessment and data policy to gender, education, health and the environment. UNESCO supports implementation with a Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) and an Ethical Impact Assessment tool used by dozens of countries.

Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems

This voluntary code asks Canadian developers and managers of advanced generative AI systems to commit to measures under six principles: accountability, safety, fairness and equity, transparency, human oversight and monitoring, and validity and robustness. Obligations are scaled according to whether a system is made available for general public use. It was introduced as a bridge while the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act was before Parliament, and lists around fifty signatory organisations.

Winning the Race: America's AI Action Plan

America's AI Action Plan is the federal AI strategy mandated by Executive Order 14179. It lists more than 90 policy actions grouped under three pillars: accelerating innovation (including removing regulatory barriers), building AI infrastructure such as data centres and chip fabrication with streamlined permitting, and leading internationally through AI exports and security measures. It was released with accompanying executive orders on federal procurement, data-centre permitting and AI exports.