AI is permeating economies, societies, governments and the environment, bringing tremendous opportunities but also risks. If appropriate safeguards are not in place, convergence of AI-enabled technologies, immersive technology, neurotechnology, synthetic biology or even quantum technologies could inherit and widen the risks. Building an evidence base, sharing technical insights and good practices, along with developing effective tools for accountability are crucial. 

Several frameworks developed by the OECD can help policymakers evaluate risks and pilot policy and governance approaches before implementing them at scale. Leveraging the consensus-based OECD recommendations, tools and tapping into its deep expertise on digital technologies and its multi-stakeholder approach, Members and Partners can work together through the Global Forum on Technology. 

To harness the opportunities and address the risks of digital and emerging technologies, like-minded countries could formulate and coalesce around norms and moral standards, such as privacy, pluralism, open markets, and human rights protection. This calls for international and multi-stakeholder platforms and frameworks, with a broad range of representative stakeholders and public engagement.  

These discussions should be results-oriented and forward-looking, aiming for anticipatory governance systems that strike the right balance between fostering innovation and effective regulation.  

New innovations offer huge potential for sustainability across diverse sectors, if guided properly. Establishing ambitious policy frameworks that incentivize emerging technology development through clear timelines, innovative financing mechanisms, regulatory visibility and directionality could help. Training programs and human-centered design can also help technology solutions meet specific needs and foster adoption at scale.  

Tackling complex global challenges requires sharing knowledge and deploying solutions through new levels of coordination and collaboration across borders. Improved data collection, metrics and shared standards are essential to help set evidence-based sustainability goals and accurately benchmark global progress. 

Uneven access to technologies and their building blocks creates barriers to equal opportunities and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Attention is needed to ensure the availability, accessibility and affordability of infrastructures and knowledge. Investing in digital literacy and awareness raising is needed to help all citizens benefit.  

Innovative public-private partnerships to address challenges and incentive solutions, such as expansion of connectivity in remote areas or involvement of local populations for inclusive-by-design technology development, have modeled progress.   

Governments, industry and civil society are developing experimental forms of collaborative platforms to organise shared resources, provide better linkages between research and innovation, and promote the development and use of emerging technology. These are most effective when they act as “convergence spaces”: synthesizing traditional disciplines, assembling diverse actors, and driving the convergence of technologies and production of new ones.  

Specific governance mechanisms (e.g. funding models, access rules, ownership and IP…) can shape platform operations and act as policy levers for ordering what amounts to a common pool resource: maximise tangible and intangible value, realise sustainability models, foment collaboration, and promote technological integration.