Trending Now
We have updated our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for Eurasia Group and its affiliates, including GZERO Media, to clarify the types of data we collect, how we collect it, how we use data and with whom we share data. By using our website you consent to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, including the transfer of your personal data to the United States from your country of residence, and our use of cookies described in our Cookie Policy.
{{ subpage.title }}
Are NATO allies aligned on Iran?
On Ian Bremmer’s World in 180 Seconds: Ian unpacks US strikes on Iran, Russia’s stance on the conflict, and the future of the United Nations at 80.
Are US strikes on Iran exposing cracks in NATO? Not according to Ian Bremmer. In this week's World in :60, Ian says, “On Iran, NATO allies are pretty aligned. They consider Iran an implacable enemy... and don't support regime change.” Even with divergent views on Israel, NATO countries are backing US actions to counter Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
On Russia’s role? It’s complicated. While Russia could help Iran, Ian emphasizes that “what they don’t have is the willingness.” The Iran-Russia relationship remains transactional, "not strategic," and Moscow’s threats over recent strikes are “all bluster.”
Finally, as the UN marks its 80th anniversary, Ian reflects on its evolving role: “Having a forum where all countries… share information and understand each other better is becoming more important, not less.” It’s not global government, but it is a critical global resource.
Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki, flanked by his family, during an election night rally in Warsaw, Poland, on June 1, 2025.
What We’re Watching this week: Poland retains a right-wing president, UN Security Council to vote on new members, & More
A conservative comeback in Poland
In a major blow to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s hopes of finally enacting his liberal and pro-Europe agenda, Law and Justice-backed candidate Karol Nawrocki defeated liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski in the final round of Poland’s presidential election. Nawrocki won 50.89% of the vote in the head-to-head runoff. His win means a conservative will retain the presidency – Andrzej Duda had served for the previous decade – so there will continue to be a cap on what Tusk can achieve, given the president’s veto power.
Five new countries to enter the UN Security Council villa
The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday will elect five new temporary members to serve for the next two years, with Algeria, Guyana, South Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia each set to end their terms this year. The 15-member council, which has five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States — tries to soothe global disputes, but has faced criticism for its failure to reform.
Guess who’s back?
The US Senate is back in session after its two-week Memorial Day hiatus, and it has something major on its docket: Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. Before the break, the House passed the bill by a single vote, but Republicans in the upper chamber have already said they’d like to make some alterations. If they do, the House will have to vote on the bill again. Penny for your thoughts, Speaker Mike Johnson?
Using AI to diagnose patients with a smartphone but no healthcare access
Artificial intelligence is often seen as a futuristic tool—but for some global health challenges, it’s already the only solution. Dr. Juan Lavista Ferres, Microsoft's Chief Data Scientist, Corporate Vice President, and Lab Director for the AI for Good Lab, points to a powerful example: diagnosing a leading cause of childhood blindness in newborns.
In this Global Stage conversation from the 2025 STI Forum at the United Nations, Ferres explains how AI is being used to detect retinopathy of prematurity, a condition affecting premature babies that now ranks as the world’s top cause of childhood blindness. The problem? There aren’t nearly enough pediatric ophthalmologists to meet global demand—and without early diagnosis, the condition often leads to permanent vision loss.
“We have AI models today that can diagnose this from your smartphone,” says Ferres. “This is just one example where AI is not just the solution—it’s the only solution we have.”
He argues that technology like this can empower doctors, not replace them, and help close critical gaps in healthcare access. With billions of people still lacking adequate care, Ferres believes AI can be a transformative force for scaling health services—if deployed thoughtfully and equitably.
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 adoption starts in the C-suite
As artificial intelligence becomes a foundational force in global business, many companies are rushing to adopt it—but not all are ready. According to Caitlin Dean, Director and Deputy Head of Corporates at Eurasia Group, success with AI isn’t just about access to the latest tools. It depends on leadership that actually understands what those tools can do.
In this Global Stage conversation from the 2025 STI Forum at the United Nations, Dean explains that while some large tech firms are integrating AI at the core of their business models, most companies are still in the early stages—using turnkey solutions to boost productivity without a clear long-term strategy. That gap, she warns, is a leadership problem.
Dean argues that organizations need more than just engineers. They need business leaders who are AI-literate—strategists who understand the technology deeply enough to apply it in meaningful, forward-looking ways. Without that, companies risk falling behind, not just in innovation, but in relevance.
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
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