Ada Lovelace Institute outlines case for a global AI governance floor

A blog post by the Ada Lovelace Institute (ALI) outlines the case for setting a global AI governance floor ahead of the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July. The initiative aims to address the increasing fragmentation of national and regional regulatory regimes, which currently struggle to manage global AI supply chains. Because AI harms transcend borders while legal frameworks do not, the current lack of coordination creates compliance complexities and encourages regulatory arbitrage. The ALI warns that a race to the bottom dynamic is emerging as nations compete for investment, potentially undermining human rights and safety.

The proposed floor would consist of a set of minimum expectations to ensure AI development upholds human rights, promotes equitable economic growth, and maintains peace. Unlike full harmonisation, the approach serves as a baseline rather than a ceiling, allowing individual jurisdictions to implement stricter standards above the threshold. 

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