At present, much of the debate surrounding AI governance is dominated by a small group of wealthy technological powers and large corporations. Standards are often discussed in exclusive forums where developing countries have limited influence despite the fact that AI will affect every society.
This imbalance risks creating a digital order where the interests of a few powerful states are treated as universal priorities while the concerns of the Global South receive secondary attention.
Many developing countries are increasingly uncomfortable with such an approach. They do not want to become mere consumers of foreign technologies or suppliers of raw data for overseas companies.
Instead, they want meaningful participation in setting international standards related to ethics, cybersecurity, privacy, digital infrastructure and technological access.
Their demand is both reasonable and necessary because AI will shape the economic future of billions of people beyond North America and Europe.
Concerns have also grown regarding how the United States is approaching the global AI competition. Washington frequently speaks about openness and innovation, yet its policies increasingly rely on export controls, technology restrictions and selective partnerships aimed at preserving strategic dominance.
Measures targeting semiconductor exports and advanced computing technologies are often justified through national security arguments, but they also contribute to a fragmented digital environment that limits equal access to innovation.
Such actions risk turning AI development into another arena of geopolitical rivalry rather than global cooperation.
This approach is unlikely to produce long term stability. AI is too powerful and too interconnected to be governed through unilateral pressure or exclusive alliances.
Cybersecurity threats, algorithmic discrimination, misinformation and the misuse of autonomous technologies are global challenges that cannot be solved by one country acting alone.
A fragmented AI order could deepen inequality between developed and developing nations while increasing political mistrust across regions.
What the world needs instead is genuine multilateralism. International governance mechanisms should allow developed and developing nations alike to participate equally in shaping standards and regulations.
Multilateral cooperation would encourage dialogue, transparency and mutual trust rather than confrontation. It would also help ensure that AI development remains connected to broader goals such as poverty reduction, economic modernisation, public health and sustainable development.
The principle of South-South cooperation is especially important in this debate. Countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East share many similar challenges, including limited digital infrastructure, shortages of technical expertise and restricted access to computing resources.
By expanding partnerships in research, education and technology transfer, developing nations can strengthen their own innovation capacity instead of depending entirely on a small number of foreign technology providers.
A cooperative framework would also create opportunities for win-win solutions. Wealthier economies could benefit from larger markets, greater innovation partnerships and more stable international relations, while developing countries could gain improved access to infrastructure, investment and technical knowledge. Such cooperation would reduce the risk of technological monopolies and create a more balanced global digital economy.
For African countries, the debate carries particular urgency. The continent possesses one of the world’s youngest populations and one of the fastest growing digital economies, yet many nations still face major infrastructure and financing constraints. Inclusive AI cooperation could help improve agricultural productivity, expand healthcare access, strengthen financial inclusion and modernise education systems.
Several emerging economies have already promoted development centred partnerships that emphasise infrastructure building, digital connectivity and knowledge sharing instead of ideological confrontation.
These initiatives demonstrate that technological progress does not have to follow a zero-sum model. When countries focus on practical cooperation, respect for national development paths and shared economic growth, AI can become a bridge for international collaboration rather than a source of political division across both developed and developing societies.
History shows that international systems are strongest when they are inclusive rather than exclusionary. AI will shape the future of humanity, and its governance should therefore reflect the interests of the entire international community.
A fair, cooperative and multilateral approach offers the best path toward ensuring that AI becomes a tool for shared progress instead of division and geopolitical competition.
The writer is a journalist and communication consultant
