2025 International Conference of the Korean Social Science Research Council
27 May 2025
Keynote Speech
Distinguished colleagues, esteemed participants,
It is a privilege to join you virtually for this important gathering of the Korean Social Science Research Council, and I am honoured to contribute to your timely reflections on the future of governance in an era defined by AI transformation.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping not only our industries, but our societies and public institutions. It is reconfiguring how public decisions are made, how services are delivered, and how citizens engage with their governments. This is a pivotal moment for democracies. We are witnessing a significant shift: from reactive bureaucracies to anticipatory governance; from top-down structures to dynamic, data-informed ecosystems.
AI enables governments to deliver services more efficiently through automation, predictive analytics, and personalised engagement. In areas like healthcare, public transport, and social welfare, public institutions are already harnessing AI-enabled tools to anticipate needs, reduce costs, and enhance outcomes. Here in Japan, where our UNU headquarters are based, artificial intelligence is already being used to analyse thousands of government projects, improving operational efficiency and service delivery.[1]
This is more than just a technical shift. It has profound political and ethical implications, raising urgent questions about equity, transparency, and accountability. While AI holds tremendous promise, we must not lose sight of the risks. Algorithmic bias can reinforce discrimination. Surveillance technologies may threaten civil liberties. And a lack of oversight can lead to the erosion of public trust. As we digitise the state, we must not digitise injustice.
In response, the United Nations has accelerated efforts to build a global governance architecture for AI. The High-Level Advisory Body on AI, established by the Secretary-General, is working to address the international governance deficit and promote principles that centre human rights, inclusivity, and sustainability. The Global Digital Compact, endorsed through the Pact for the Future, lays the foundation for an inclusive digital order — one that reflects shared values and global cooperation.
At the United Nations University, we support this transformation through rigorous, policy-relevant research. With 13 institutes in 12 countries, UNU is examining how AI can advance sustainable development while ensuring no one is left behind. From digital inclusion and disaster resilience to ethical AI deployment in environmental governance and public health, our work seeks to ensure that AI serves the global good.
However, the governance of artificial intelligence cannot rest on the shoulders of international organisations alone. Building ethical and inclusive AI systems requires deeper cooperation across all sectors, bringing together academia, governments, the private sector, and civil society. It is only through interdisciplinary collaboration, global partnerships, and sustained dialogue that we can develop governance frameworks that are not only effective, but legitimate and future-proof.
Conferences like this one play a vital role in that endeavour, helping us to build bridges across borders and foster the trust and cooperation that ethical AI governance demands. In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “AI is not standing still — neither can we. Let us move for an AI that is shaped by all of humanity, for all of humanity.”
Let us remember: technology shapes power, but governance shapes justice. Our task is not simply to govern AI, but to reimagine governance itself. In doing so, we can build public institutions that are more agile, inclusive, and resilient. I hope that this conference will foster meaningful dialogue and new partnerships in that endeavour.
Thank you.
[1] https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Artificial-intelligence/Japan-turns-to-AI-for-help-in-analyzing-5-000-government-projects