Durham College’s AI Hub brings home insights from inaugural UN Global Dialogue

Durham College’s (DC) AI Hub has a new global perspective following the inaugural United Nations (UN) Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, Switzerland, this summer.

For DC’s Saba Siddiqi, Manager – R&D and AI Governance, who attended the event to contribute perspectives from applied AI practice and engage with international stakeholders, being part of the global conversation was an opportunity to learn from different approaches to governance and consider how those viewpoints can inform the practical work of the AI Hub.

The event brought together governments, stakeholders and experts, including representatives from more than 170 countries, to discuss international cooperation, share best practices, and explore both the challenges and opportunities of AI use to support social, economic and development priorities. Discussion topics focused on ethics, equitable access to technology, and sharing knowledge and resources.

Siddiqi noted that the discussions in Geneva placed AI governance questions in a broader global context, highlighting differences in access to capabilities, infrastructure, skills and opportunities across countries, and underscoring the importance of making these conversations more accessible and practical for organizations, educators, and communities.

“One of my biggest takeaways was that it is not only about managing risk; it is also about access, representation, and ensuring that people and communities have the capacity to participate in and benefit from AI development,” shared Siddiqi. “Hearing how different countries are approaching AI reinforced the importance of human judgement, inclusion, and context.”

These insights will help inform DC’s work with industry partners, researchers, and students. Responsible practices are already rooted throughout the centre’s projects, from defining a problem and selecting an appropriate approach to evaluating a solution and considering how it may be used in practice. This work reflects the importance of translating high-level principles into practical guidance that helps organizations make responsible decisions throughout the AI lifecycle.

As the UN’s global discussion on this topic continues next spring, Siddiqi hopes to build on what she learned in Geneva and continue connecting broader governance principles with practical guidance and applied research, as the AI Hub continues to support innovation and research at DC and beyond.

Learn more about the AI Hub.

Session recordings and resources, such as the preliminary report, are available on the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance website.