Twenty countries and the European Union have called for international cooperation on artificial intelligence. The joint statement asks governments to keep AI under human control as the technology develops fast.
The declaration was released by the office of Finnish President Alexander Stubb. It was issued Monday, just as world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly.
The signers include Germany, South Africa, Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. Norway, Kenya, Kazakhstan and Turkey also joined the statement.
The declaration says industry, governments and society must act now. It states that AI should remain under "human direction, oversight and control."
The statement also warns that countries need to close gaps in AI access. It says oversight should not come at the cost of leaving some nations behind.
What the Declaration Proposes
The document asks countries to build common standards for AI development. It also calls for sharing reports when serious safety incidents happen.
One of the biggest ideas in the statement is a new international institution. This body could set standards, verify compliance, and bring countries together when AI systems cross certain risk levels.
The declaration does not create this body right away. Instead, it asks countries to explore the idea further.
Several major world leaders signed on. These include German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Kenyan President William Ruto.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also signed. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan signed on behalf of Turkey.
Who Signed and Who Did Not
The United States and China are missing from the list. These two countries lead the world in AI development and investment.
Neither government has said whether it plans to join later. The declaration remains open for other countries to sign at any time.
Washington and Beijing have both pushed back on calls to slow AI progress. Both countries see AI as a key part of their economic and military future.
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to meet Thursday at the White House. This will be their third in-person meeting in under a year.
AI is expected to be one of the topics discussed at that meeting. Neither leader has commented publicly on the new declaration so far.
The joint statement adds to a growing list of international efforts on AI safety. Governments have held similar meetings and summits over the past few years.
For now, the declaration stands as a call to action rather than a binding agreement. Its next steps depend on how many more countries choose to sign on.
