AI for Good Global Summit 2026

The spoken word is final.

Madam Secretary General,

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to Geneva for this year's AI for Good Global Summit.

Geneva has long been a place where the international community comes together to tackle global challenges through dialogue, cooperation and innovation. Today, as artificial intelligence is transforming every aspect of our societies, it is fitting that we gather here once again to explore how this technology can improve lives around the world.

Since its launch in 2017, AI for Good has established itself as the leading global platform where governments, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, international organisations and civil society come together—not only to discuss the future of AI, but to demonstrate it.

What makes this Summit unique is its focus on practical solutions. Throughout this week, we will discover technologies that are already making a difference: advancing healthcare, improving disaster response, supporting education, protecting biodiversity, strengthening food security and helping us accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

The pace of innovation in artificial intelligence continues to accelerate. Every year brings new scientific breakthroughs, new applications and new opportunities. What seemed impossible only a short time ago is quickly becoming reality.

This makes gatherings such as AI for Good more important than ever. Innovation does not happen in isolation. It flourishes when researchers meet policymakers, when startups engage with international organisations, when businesses collaborate with academia, and when diverse perspectives come together to solve shared challenges.

Switzerland is proud to co-host this Summit alongside the International Telecommunication Union and many United Nations partners. As a country with a strong tradition in research, innovation and international cooperation, we believe that technological progress delivers its greatest benefits when it is open, collaborative and focused on the public good.

Switzerland is a proud co-host alongside ITU, in partnership with many UN agencies and partners.

Geneva offers a unique environment for these conversations. Nowhere else do we find such a concentration of international organisations, scientific expertise, humanitarian actors and diplomatic institutions. This ecosystem enables ideas to move more quickly from the laboratory to real-world implementation and from local innovation to global impact.

Of course, innovation also brings responsibility. As AI becomes more powerful and more widely deployed, we must continue working together to ensure that its development remains trustworthy, inclusive and centred on human needs. But responsible innovation and technological progress are not competing objectives, they reinforce one another.

The AI for Good Summit reminds us that artificial intelligence is ultimately about people. It is about improving lives, expanding opportunities and finding new solutions to the challenges we all share.

I encourage each of you to take full advantage of this week: discover new ideas, build new partnerships and be inspired by the remarkable work showcased throughout the Summit. Together, we have the opportunity to shape technologies that not only push the boundaries of innovation but also contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future.

In 2027, Switzerland will host the next World Summit on AI in Geneva. This afternoon, right here at the AI for Good, we will be revealing the dates, website and main priorities for this AI Summit. We are very proud to make this announcement at AI for Good, the platform that has, for years, been connecting AI innovators with real-world challenges right here in Geneva. That spirit of purposeful, human-centered innovation is exactly what the Geneva AI Summit 2027 will carry forward.

Thank you, and I wish you all an inspiring and successful AI for Good Global Summit.