Good morning, this is Paula. At a recent gathering on AI governance in Geneva, my colleague Kasmira Jefford sat down with the rector of the UN University to discuss his concerns with what many see as a runaway technology.
Tshilidzi Marwala, a scholar, engineer and leading expert on artificial intelligence, argues that effective AI governance requires a deeper understanding of the technology itself. He says lawmakers, in particular, need to become more AI-literate to craft legislation that keeps pace with its development. |
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Tshilidzi Marwala, UN under-secretary general and rector of UN University, who is also a leading academic in the field of AI and engineering, speaking at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance on 6 July, 2026. (UN University)
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For Tshilidzi Marwala, a South African scholar, engineer, and leading expert on AI, successful governance of the technology inevitably begins with education – from the classroom to the boardroom. But it’s with lawmakers overseeing new rules for the burgeoning sector that his chief concerns lie.
Marwala, interviewed on the sidelines of the United Nations’ global gathering on AI governance on 6 and 7 July, told Geneva Solutions: “You can’t regulate what you don’t fully understand.” Rector of Tokyo-based UN University since 2023, Marwala argues that basic literacy will be key to standing up to big tech’s claims, and ensuring a responsible roll-out of the technology – but also in bridging the gap between those creating AI, and those trying to govern it.
The research organisation will open its 14th institute in Bologna, Italy, dedicated to AI and big data, and to bringing policymakers “closer to the algorithms”. Marwala explains why it’s the UN’s role to do this.
Read the full story on Geneva Solutions.
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Here’s what else is happening
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🧑🏭Spanish minister enters race to lead UN labour agency, amid US funding concerns.
The nomination of Yolanda Díaz, labour and deputy prime minister, was made on Thursday ahead of the November election of the next director general of the International Labour Organization. It comes just days after the US confirmed it will eliminate funding to the ILO, together with the WHO, Unesco and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Reuters (EN)
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💰US pledges over $200 million in aid to Red Cross agencies.
A US State Department announcement on Thursday said the assistance would include a nearly $133 million contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross and $70 m to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Reuters (EN)
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⚖️Mexico files 20 US complaints, seeks UN review over ICE deaths.
The government had written to UN human rights chief Volker Türk, asking that his office investigate the cases and recommend measures to prevent further deaths.
UPI (EN)
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⛏️Demand for critical minerals fuels conflict but could help resource-rich nations, WTO says.
Addressing the UN Security Council, the global trade body’s chief, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said mineral-rich developing countries should press for more involvement in mineral processing and work together to promote investment.
Associated Press (EN)
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🚀When Boko Haram can rely on a strong ally: ‘AI taught us to make the explosion more devastating’.
A study finds that the terrorist group Boko Haram has been systematically using AI in all stages of attack planning, after militants were trained by foreign technicians.
Le Temps (EN)
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