On September 23rd, the United Nations launched AI and Human Development: Convenings with Purpose during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Global Strategy Lab Founder Steven J. Hoffman attended the official launch and was involved in the report’s writing, analysis, and overall structure.
Convened by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and the UN Office for Partnerships, the report looks beyond questions of AI regulation and technological capability to examine how AI is reshaping human agency, relationships, culture, dignity, education, work and well-being. Drawing on four 2026 convenings in Cairo, Mexico City, Xi’an and Rome involving more than 130 participants, it argues that decisions being made now will have significant implications for human development.
Steven participated in the convenings in Xi’an and Rome and contributed to the writing, analysis and overall structure of the report. He is also quoted in the publication, “York University Professor Steven J. Hoffman observed that billions of dollars are being invested in technological development without the same level of investment in learning how to manage these developments effectively. He argued that the social sciences and humanities — the disciplines that help us understand our humanity — are comparatively under-funded and further threatened as student enrolment in them falls.”
The report calls for broader participation in decisions about AI and for action now, while governments, institutions and communities still have meaningful opportunities to shape how the technology affects human development.
Read AI and Human Development: Convenings with Purpose and watch the UNGA launch.
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