On May 21st, 2026 in Munich, the Institute for Ethics in Artificial Intelligence at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), together with colleagues from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR) and the University of Vienna, convened a roundtable on “AI Governance in a Fragmented Landscape”.
Held in the broader context the International Dialogue on Global AI Governance organized by UN ODET, UNESCO and ITU, as well as the AI Impact Summit, the discussions built upon earlier conversations initiated by the IEAI on the need for a UN Convention on AI, Data, and Human Rights.
Participants explored how recent technological breakthroughs and evolving geopolitical dynamics affect both the feasibility and the necessity of global AI governance frameworks. The conversation highlighted that effective governance is not only about regulating AI and associated systems, but also about addressing the broader societal and political implications of AI, including its use by states and the mechanisms needed to ensure universal enforcement, the mitigation of algorithmic harm and governmental accountability.
Particular attention was given to the impact of AI on fundamental concepts such as human dignity, privacy and self-determination, which might require the doctrinal expansion of existing human rights. The discussion also underscored the importance of incorporating diverse international perspectives shaped by different historical experiences and value traditions, including varying views on the interpretation of human rights within Europe.
A central question throughout the discussion was how consensus can be built amongst diverse stakeholders in an increasingly fragmented world.
The exchange reaffirmed the importance of developing international frameworks grounded in the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Charter. We look forward to continuing this dialogue. One conclusion stood out clearly: AI governance is not only a matter of ethics and technology—it has also become a pressing issue of international relations.
Many thanks to the organizers—Christoph Lütge, Caitlin Corrigan, Alexander Kriebitz, Stefanos Athanasiou, Michael Lysander Fremuth and Camilla Haake—and to all of the participants who traveled from near and far to contribute to this important discussion. Special thanks to the TUM Think Tank for hosting the roundtable.
