Governing AI in the Real World: From Frontier Innovation to Global Action
Organizers: The Institute for AI International Governance of Tsinghua University (I-AIIG), United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR), The International Association for Safe & Ethical AI (IASEAI), UNU Hub for the Project of Promoting Ethical and Responsible Artificial Intelligence, UNU AI Network, AI Safety Connect
Time: September 23th, 2026, 15:30-17:30 (EDT)
Venue: United Nations University Centre for Policy Research, One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, 885 2nd Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Overview
As frontier AI technologies move rapidly from research into real-world applications, effective AI governance increasingly requires practical approaches to implementation, assessment, and oversight. This session will bring together governments, international organizations, industry, and academia to examine how global AI governance principles can be translated into measurable and actionable approaches that help advance frontier AI innovation from development to real-world applications, including AI readiness, risk and impact assessment, governance implementation, technical safeguards, and capacity building. Drawing on emerging practices across regions and sectors, the discussion will identify practical tools, policy approaches, and opportunities for international cooperation to help translate frontier AI innovation into safe, trustworthy, and beneficial real-world applications.
Invited Speakers and other participants
Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
Sadhvi Saran, Strategy and Policy Advisor to the ITU Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Bin Yang, Vice Chair of the Tsinghua University Council, Professor of Tsinghua's School of Economics and Management
Maria Ressa, Co-Chair, UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI
Stuart Russell, Professor of Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley
Duncan Cass-Beggs, Executive Director of the Global AI Risks Initiative, Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Mark Robinson, Senior Science Diplomacy Advisor, Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative, University of Oxford
Emrys Schoemaker, Head of Digital and Frontier Technologies, United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR)
Ana García Robles, Head of the AI Governance for Humanity Lab, Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET)
Cyrus Hodes, Founder of AI Safety Connect and Venture Partner of Lionheart Ventures
Nicolas Miailhe, Co-founder and Co-CEO of AI Safety Connect
Scott Singer, Fellow and Co-Director of the China AI Initiative at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Malo Bourgon, CEO, Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI)
Aparna Bhushan, AI Governance & Data Protection Lead, UNDP
Christina McElwaine, Chief Operations Officer, United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR)
Loy Sheflott, General Manager, The International Association for Safe & Ethical AI (IASEAI)
Qian Xiao, Vice Dean, Institute for AI International Governance (I-AIIG), Tsinghua University (Moderator)
Zheng Liang , Vice Dean, Institute for AI International Governance (I-AIIG), Professor of the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University
Proposed Agenda
Opening Remarks
Session I: From Frontier AI Innovation to Responsible Deployment
As frontier AI moves from development into real-world applications, what governance capabilities are needed to enable responsible innovation?
How can AI readiness, risk and impact assessment, and technical safeguards be integrated into the development and deployment process?
What practical approaches are emerging from governments, industry, and research institutions?
Session II: From Governance Principles to Measurable Action
How can countries and organizations measure their capacity and readiness to govern AI effectively?
What indicators, assessment approaches, and institutional mechanisms can help identify governance gaps and translate them into concrete priorities?
How can different countries and stakeholders share evidence, build capacity, and cooperate on practical governance solutions?
Closing Remarks
Due to limited venue capacity, registration for this event is now closed.
If you are particularly interested in attending, please contact Alice Chen Fan at alicefanc@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn and briefly include:
We will review requests based on availability and will do our best to accommodate additional participants where possible.
