A powerful coalition of The Elders, an independent group of global leaders including Nobel laureates, former Presidents and Prime Ministers, and leading AI scientists, has issued an urgent call to action to governments worldwide to regulate Artificial Intelligence to prevent the risks associated with AI from getting completely out of hand.
In an urgent declaration issued on 27th March 2026, The Elders stated that “the rising gap between AI capabilities and effective governance is becoming a crisis that demands immediate global leadership and cooperation.”
While Artificial Intelligence has tremendous benefits to offer in the fields of healthcare, education, and agriculture, the risks associated with Artificial Intelligence are also becoming manifest.
The most alarming risks are the early deployment of Artificial Intelligence in military technologies, thus breaching international laws and inflicting harm on the environment, mass surveillance, discrimination, political manipulation, and environmental damage to the poor.
In this regard, the Elders have also rejected the notion that the emergence and related threats of Artificial Intelligence are moving too quickly to be effectively governed and, as such, Artificial Intelligence companies must take the responsibility of self-regulation.
Instead, they have called for collective action to be taken at the global level through the application of scientific research, as well as transparency and accountability. The role of the United Nations is also essential in this case.
This call was also made by Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo. In this case, the Special Envoy spoke of social media and stated, “The gap between rapidly advancing AI capability and effective governance is no longer a future concern but a crisis demanding urgent leadership and global cooperation. AI governance cannot be left to markets alone or narrow geopolitical competition. The choices we make now will determine who benefits from AI and who bears its risks.”
The declaration by The Elders identifies three areas that are critical and need urgent government intervention. The areas include the need to ensure peace and security through the halt of reckless AI weaponization, the need to ensure the rule of law and human rights
This unprecedented declaration at the global level is sending an important message to the world. AI is here to stay, but unless governments act decisively today, the consequences will be catastrophic.
The Elders and their allies urge governments and all stakeholders to unite, govern AI responsibly, and shape a future where AI serves humanity fostering a safer, more just, and sustainable world for all.
