Dr P Subramanyachary

TheAI for Good Global Commission is a high-level international commission established with the support of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was officially launched during the AI for Good event held in July 2026. The Commission comprises 44 founding commissioners and members, including heads of state, chief executive officers (CEOs) of leading global companies, technology experts, and representatives of international organizations.

The Commission is co-chaired by Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, and Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO of Salesforce. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), serves as the Vice-Chair. From India, Mukesh Ambani, Sunil Bharti Mittal, and Lakshmi N. Mittal have been appointed as founding members of the Commission.

The inaugural meeting of the AI for Good Global Commission was held on July 8 in Geneva, Switzerland. Although the Commission’s first meeting took place on that day, it formed part of the broader AI for Good Global Summit 2026, which was held from July 7-10. The four-day summit featured more than 300 sessions, including conferences, exhibitions, training workshops, demonstrations, and high-level discussions.

The deliberations focused primarily on AI governance, technological innovation, and the role of artificial intelligence in achieving sustainable development, along with strategies to maximize AI’s benefits while mitigating its potential risks and adverse impacts.

More than 40 founding commissioners participated in the inaugural meeting of the AI for Good Global Commission. During the meeting, the Commission adopted several key resolutions. Among the most significant were strengthening trustworthy and ethical AI governance and expanding global access to artificial intelligence, with particular emphasis on the needs of developing countries. The Commission also resolved to promote international collaboration among governments, industries, academic and research institutions, civil society organizations, and international organizations.

It emphasized the effective use of AI to help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, climate change, and agriculture. Another key priority identified by the Commission was reducing the digital divide by investing in digital infrastructure, skill development, and capacity building.

In addition, the Commission reaffirmed that the development of human-centric artificial intelligence that safeguards human rights, promotes inclusiveness, and enhances public welfare is of paramount importance. It further emphasized that its primary objective is to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared equitably by all countries and all sections of society. However, the AI for Good Global Commission is not a regulatory body. Rather, it serves primarily as an advisory and coordinating platform. Consequently, for its recommendations to have a meaningful and lasting impact, they must be adopted and implemented by national governments and other relevant institutions around the world.

AI: Impact on employment and sustainable development

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is bringing about significant transformations in the global economy. Its impact is particularly evident in the areas of employment and sustainable development.According to the Future of Jobs Report 2025 published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), AI and other emerging technologies are expected to create approximately 170 million new jobs worldwide by 2030.

At the same time, around 92 million jobs are projected to disappear, leading to major changes in the global labour market. Routine and repetitive tasks in sectors such as manufacturing, customer service, administration, and data processing are particularly vulnerable to automation. As a result, millions of workers will need to undergo re-skilling and upskilling to adapt to the changing nature of work. According to estimates by the International Labour Organization (ILO), nearly one-quarter (25%) of global employment is likely to be affected by generative AI.

Clerical and administrative occupations, in particular, are expected to experience the greatest impact due to the increasing automation of routine office tasks. If the benefits of AI are concentrated primarily among highly skilled workers and technology-driven enterprises, there is a significant risk that income inequality will widen further.

Therefore, governments, industries, and educational institutions must work together to ensure that the gains from AI are distributed more equitably through inclusive policies, workforce development, and access to digital skills.

From the perspective of sustainable development, AI systems require large-scale data centres that consume substantial amounts of electricity and water for their operation and maintenance. If these facilities are not powered by renewable or clean energy sources, they can place additional pressure on the environment and contribute to higher carbon emissions.

Developing countries may also face significant challenges due to limited digital infrastructure and a shortage of AI-related skills, increasing the risk of falling behind in the global digital economy. This could further widen the technological and digital divide between developed and developing nations.At the same time, the responsible and ethical use of AI offers immense opportunities.

AI can improve energy efficiency, enable more accurate climate change forecasting, enhance the accessibility and quality of healthcare services, and increase agricultural productivity through precision farming and data-driven decision-making.

Therefore, it is essential to implement effective AI governance, strengthen quality education, promote skill development, and invest in reskilling and upskilling initiatives. These measures are crucial to ensuring that the benefits of AI are inclusive, sustainable, and contribute positively to long-term economic and social development.

Significance of AI for Good Global Commission for India

The AI for Good Global Commission is of great significance to India. It supports the development of responsible and ethical artificial intelligence, promotes digital inclusion, and helps the country effectively address the economic and social challenges arising from the rapid adoption of AI.

India’s AI ecosystem is expanding rapidly. Recognizing its strategic importance, the Government of India approved the IndiaAI Mission in 2024 with a budget of ₹10,371.92 crore. The mission aims to strengthen AI infrastructure, skill development, innovation, and research, thereby positioning India as a global leader in artificial intelligence. AI has the potential to deliver substantial benefits across several key sectors in India, including healthcare, agriculture, education, disaster management, and public service delivery.

In particular, the Commission can support India by: Promoting ethical and trustworthy AI standards, strengthening international cooperation on AI governance and innovation, enhancing cybersecurity and digital resilience and facilitating access to global best practices in AI development and regulation.

Furthermore, the Commission can help developing countries, including India, bridge the digital divide by encouraging equitable access to AI technologies and digital infrastructure. It also promotes the extension of AI’s benefits to rural areas and socially disadvantaged communities, ensuring that technological progress is more inclusive.

In addition, the Commission can play a crucial role in helping India mitigate the potential adverse impacts of AI on employment, society, and the environment through responsible AI governance, capacity building, and sustainable policy frameworks. This will enable India to harness the transformative potential of AI while ensuring that its benefits are shared broadly across all sections of society.

To achieve its objectives, the AI for Good Global Commission promotes global collaboration among governments, technology companies, researchers, and civil society organizations. By fostering cooperation among these key stakeholders, the Commission seeks to ensure that artificial intelligence is developed and deployed in a responsible, inclusive, and sustainable manner.

The Commission also plays a vital role in maximizing the benefits of AI for individuals and societies worldwide while minimizing its potential risks and adverse impacts. It aims to encourage the adoption of ethical AI practices, strengthen international coordination, and support policies that ensure AI serves the broader public interest.If governments, industry, academia, and civil society work together to implement the Commission’s recommendations, the AI for Good Global Commission can make a significant contribution to building a safer, more equitable, and AI-driven global economy that promotes sustainable development and shared prosperity for all.

(The writer is Professor, School of Commerce and Management, Mohan Babu University, Tirupati)