UNGA 81: PIN warns AI could deepen global inequality without safeguards

Stanley Ihedigbo

As world leaders gather in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is set to champion the rights, autonomy and interests of underserved communities in the global debate on artificial intelligence (AI) governance.

PIN’s Executive Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, will represent the organisation during the UNGA week, where it will advocate for technology governance frameworks that reflect the realities of communities across the Global South.

The organisation said it would use its engagements during the General Assembly to push for stronger protections against technological extractivism, algorithmic marginalisation and violations of digital rights.

As part of the activities, Paradigm Initiative will host a dinner with civil society organisations, government representatives, private-sector stakeholders and technical experts on September 24, 2026. The engagement is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss and develop a unified Global South agenda on artificial intelligence and digital self-determination.

According to PIN, the discussions will draw from its recent publication, What’s the Whole Fuss About AI? A Global South Primer, as well as lessons from its two decades of work in digital rights and advocacy, is documented in its book, The PIN Story: A Work in Progress.

The organisation warned that the rapid expansion of AI and automated systems could worsen existing inequalities if access, governance and accountability are not deliberately addressed.

“The gap between the connected and the unconnected (as well as the disconnected) may become much wider as those who already have access are equipped with tools that give them additional advantage,” Sesan stated in the Global South Primer.

PIN said its primer provides practical guidelines for rights-respecting AI deployment, data sovereignty, linguistic inclusion and safeguards against automated marginalisation.

The organisation is also asking fundamental questions about the development and deployment of AI, including what technology can do, who benefits from it and who benefits first, who participates in setting technological standards, and what avenues for redress exist when automated systems cause harm.

PIN cautioned that without deliberate interventions, AI could reinforce existing patterns of exclusion, dependency and unequal power relations, particularly in communities that already face limited access to digital infrastructure and opportunities.

The organisation said its participation at UNGA 81 is aimed at ensuring that discussions on the future of AI do not focus solely on technological advancement, but also address human rights, inclusion, accountability and the digital sovereignty of countries and communities in the Global South.

Interested stakeholders are invited to participate in the engagement and contribute to discussions on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the Global South.

Paradigm Initiative also encouraged policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to explore its Global South Primer, its work on AI in Africa and The PIN Story: A Work in Progress, which chronicles the organisation’s evolution and digital rights advocacy over two decades.