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Winning the AI race isn't about who invented it first
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the global economy, the spotlight often lands on breakthrough inventions from labs like OpenAI, Anthropic, or DeepSeek. But according to Jeffrey Ding, assistant professor at George Washington University and author of "Technology and the Rise of Great Powers," that focus misses the bigger picture.
In this Global Stage conversation from the 2025 STI Forum at the United Nations, Ding argues that the true driver of national power isn’t who invents the next great AI tool—it’s who can scale it. He calls this process “diffusion”: the broad, effective spread of general-purpose technologies like AI across entire economies, industries, and institutions.
History backs him up. From electricity to the steam engine, Ding notes that the countries that ultimately benefitted most from past industrial revolutions were those that could integrate new technologies widely — not just invent them first. “That’s where diffusion meets inclusion,” he says.
This conversation is presented by GZERO in partnership with Microsoft, from the 2025 STI Forum at the United Nations in New York. The Global Stage series convenes global leaders for critical conversations on the geopolitical and technological trends shaping our world.
See more at https://www.gzeromedia.com/global-stage/un-sti-forum/ai-trends-in-2025-that-drive-progress-on-global-goals
Customizing AI strategies for every region, culture, and language is critical
As artificial intelligence races ahead, there’s growing concern that it could deepen the digital divide—unless global inclusion becomes a priority. Lucia Velasco, AI Policy Lead at the United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, warns that without infrastructure, local context, and inclusive design, AI risks benefiting only the most connected parts of the world.
In this Global Stage conversation from the 2025 STI Forum at the United Nations, Velasco argues that to be truly transformative, AI must be developed with the realities of underserved regions in mind. “It’s not the same solution thought of in the US as one in any country in Africa,” she explains. Effective governance, she says, must bring together governments, companies, academia, and civil society—not just a handful of powerful tech players.
Velasco emphasizes that AI adoption isn’t just about deploying tools—it’s about building the foundations that allow every country to create its own solutions. That includes access to electricity, connectivity, and training, but also ensuring AI models speak a diversity of languages and reflect a diversity of needs.
This conversation is presented by GZERO in partnership with Microsoft, from the 2025 STI Forum at the United Nations in New York. The Global Stage series convenes global leaders for critical conversations on the geopolitical and technological trends shaping our world.
See more at https://www.gzeromedia.com/global-stage/un-sti-forum/ai-trends-in-2025-that-drive-progress-on-global-goals
AI can only help people who can access electricity and internet
Hundreds of millions of people now use artificial intelligence each week—but that impressive number masks a deeper issue. According to Dr. Juan Lavista Ferres, Microsoft’s Chief Data Scientist, Corporate Vice President, and Lab Director for the AI for Good Lab, access to AI remains out of reach for nearly half the world’s population.
In this Global Stage conversation from the 2025 STI Forum at the United Nations, Ferres outlines the barriers that prevent AI from reaching its full potential: lack of electricity, limited internet connectivity, and inadequate access to computers. Even when those hurdles are cleared, many people face another challenge—AI systems that don’t speak their language.
Most large language models are trained in a few dominant languages like English, Spanish, or Mandarin, leaving millions of speakers of local or Indigenous languages excluded from the benefits of AI. “Once you revisit the whole funnel,” Ferres says, “you have likely around half the world that do not have access to this technology.”
Bridging these divides, he argues, is essential—not just for equity, but for unlocking AI’s promise as a truly global force for development and inclusion.
This conversation is presented by GZERO in partnership with Microsoft, from the 2025 STI Forum at the United Nations in New York. The Global Stage series convenes global leaders for critical conversations on the geopolitical and technological trends shaping our world.
See more at https://www.gzeromedia.com/global-stage
AI trends in 2025 that drive progress on global goals
As the 10th annual UN Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum gets under way in New York, GZERO Media’s Global Stage series presents a timely conversation about the promise and peril of artificial intelligence in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Moderated by GZERO Media Chief Content Officer Tony Maciulis, this forward-looking panel features Microsoft’s chief data scientist Dr. Juan Lavista Ferres, UN AI policy lead Lucia Velasco, George Washington University professor and author Jeffrey Ding, and Eurasia Group’s Caitlin Dean.
Filmed inside United Nations headquarters, the discussion explores whether AI can truly be a tool for inclusion—or if it risks deepening global divides. Panelists highlight challenges from access to electricity and internet, to language gaps and workforce training, while also spotlighting ways AI is already helping to deliver healthcare and education at scale.
With global cooperation and multi-stakeholder governance still works in progress, this Global Stage conversation captures a pivotal moment for technology and the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
This conversation is presented by GZERO in partnership with Microsoft, from the 2025 STI Forum at the United Nations in New York. The Global Stage series convenes global leaders for critical conversations on the geopolitical and technological trends shaping our world.
See more at https://www.gzeromedia.com/global-stage