Regulating AI and Club de Madrid Co-Host Global Webinar on Democratic AI Governance

Regulating AI Inc. and Club de Madrid convened global leaders to advance democratic AI governance and six key action priorities ahead of Geneva 2026.

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, June 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Regulating AI Inc. (Knowledge Networks Group) and Club de Madrid successfully co-hosted an online session on Democratic AI Governance on 12 May 2026, convening global policymakers, former heads of state, multilateral representatives, and AI practitioners to shape inclusive, rights-based AI governance frameworks ahead of the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the AI for Good Summit in Geneva, July 2026.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
The session was moderated by Sanjay Puri, Founder and CEO, Regulating AI Inc. / Knowledge Networks Group. Speakers included Esko Aho, Prime Minister of Finland (1991-1995), Club de Madrid Member; Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland (2000-2012), Club de Madrid Member; Mehdi Jomaa, Prime Minister of Tunisia (2014-2015), Club de Madrid Member; Obiageli "Oby" Ezekwesili, Former Minister of Education of Nigeria and Former Vice President for the Africa Region, World Bank, Club de Madrid Advisor; Sean Cleary, Chairman, Strategic Concepts (Pty) Ltd., Club de Madrid Advisor; Ruben Campos, Director of Programmes, Club de Madrid; and Micky Tripathi, Chief Artificial Intelligence Implementation Officer, Mayo Clinic Platform. Special guests included Preetam Maloor, Head of the Emerging Technologies Division, International Telecommunication Union (ITU); and Guillaume Andro, Management and Technology Consulting, EY (Ernst and Young).

KEY THEMES AND DISCUSSIONS
The webinar examined AI inclusion and equitable access; global coordination and interoperable governance frameworks; human oversight, transparency, and accountability; democratic safeguards and AI literacy; and risks posed by military AI applications and AI-enabled misinformation. A strong consensus emerged that governance conversations must now transition from high-level policy discussions toward implementation-oriented collaboration, with particular emphasis on multi-stakeholder engagement and stronger participation from the Global South.

OUTCOMES AND THE ROAD TO GENEVA
Six action priorities were identified for follow-up at Geneva. These include establishing a Democratic AI Governance Coalition of governments, international organisations, industry, academia, and civil society; launching a Global South AI Readiness Initiative covering digital infrastructure, AI literacy, and public sector AI capacity; developing Sector-Specific AI Governance Pilots in healthcare, elections, public services, and education; initiating a dedicated Military and Security Dialogue on AI to address autonomous weapons and cybersecurity risks; developing a Minimum Global Baseline for AI Governance anchored in human rights, transparency, and non-discrimination; and launching a collaborative AI Literacy and Public Awareness Initiative. A roundtable to advance these priorities will be convened at AI for Good 2026 in Geneva.

"The urgency of getting AI governance right has never been greater. This webinar reaffirmed that democratic values, inclusion, and human rights must be the bedrock of every governance framework we build. Regulating AI is proud to stand alongside Club de Madrid in advancing this critical agenda."
Sanjay Puri, Founder and Chairman, Regulating AI Inc. / Knowledge Networks Group

About Regulating AI Inc. / Knowledge Networks Group
Regulating AI Inc., an initiative by Knowledge Networks, is a Washington D.C.-based AI governance organisation founded by Sanjay K. Puri. It convenes policymakers, technologists, and civil society leaders through events, research, and multi-stakeholder platforms to advance responsible and democratic AI governance globally. Its ecosystem of initiatives includes CAIO Connect, ERAI Fellowship, PolicyOra, Universal AI Awards, AI Speakers Bureau, and RALC.
About Club de Madrid

Club de Madrid is the world's largest forum of democratic former heads of state and government. It works to strengthen democracy and democratic leadership worldwide by making the experience and moral authority of its Members available to address pressing global challenges, including technology governance, democratic resilience, and inclusive development.

Upasana Das
Knowledge Networks
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