World Leaders Convene at UN General Assembly to Tackle AI, Conflict and Climate
Heads of state will gather in New York for the opening of the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, where they are expected to discuss artificial intelligence, ongoing wars and climate action.
The United Nations General Assembly begins its 81st session in New York, with Brazil opening the floor and the United States speaking second, after which speakers are ordered by rank and arrival. Delegates are asked to keep remarks to 15 minutes, though historic speeches have lasted hours. This year’s theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All,” frames discussions on AI governance, as Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns of an unchecked race in the technology.
High-profile conflicts will also dominate, with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Russia’s Sergei Lavrov, Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian, and Sudan’s Abdel Fattah al-Burhan slated to address the assembly. The Israel-Palestine issue will feature Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech and a video appearance by Mahmoud Abbas, while climate leaders from vulnerable island states will press for stronger action. Meanwhile, member states will begin informal talks on selecting the next UN Secretary-General.
Why it matters
The gathering sets the agenda for global cooperation on AI, conflict resolution and climate, influencing policies that affect billions.
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