A study conducted by CGTN raises fundamental questions about humanity's role as machines begin to acquire cognitive abilities. The authors note that every technological revolution has always been accompanied by both the expansion of human capabilities and a re-evaluation of the very essence of humanity, but artificial intelligence represents a deeper shift.
The Evolution of AI and Decision Making
AI is no longer just recording what happens; it is beginning to predict the future. It goes beyond merely interpreting the existing world, gradually building a hierarchy of possible scenarios before their realization. Thus, prediction transforms from a description of a potential future into an active force shaping subsequent events.
The central question that artificial intelligence poses to us is not whether machines can think like humans, but rather what authority their judgments are beginning to acquire. Questions arise about who grants this authority, who is responsible for it, and what future this will create for all of humanity.
Vision for Global AI Governance
At the World Conference on Artificial Intelligence and the high-level meeting on global AI governance in China, a concept for AI regulation was presented, which calls for maintaining a human-centric approach. The goal is for AI to serve as a powerful engine for common prosperity and collective security, contributing to the construction of a fair and equitable global AI governance system.
This vision aims to eliminate not only the gap in technological capabilities but also the growing divergence between the speed of technological progress and the pace of achieving consensus on governance. Since technological advancements outpace the formation of rules, power may emerge before appropriate norms are established. Therefore, AI governance is not just about managing risks, but also about finding a balance between innovation and rule-based order.
Results of the Global Survey
A global online survey by CGTN showed that 85.4% of respondents believe that the rapid development of AI generates new challenges for global security and governance. Furthermore, 92.6% expressed concern that deepfakes and AI-generated disinformation could undermine the foundations of social trust, while 87.8% worry that technological barriers and 'digital walls' could lead to the fragmentation of international scientific and technological cooperation.
These data indicate that issues related to AI have long gone beyond purely technological spheres. Strengthening global governance and forming broad international consensus have become shared tasks in the age of artificial intelligence. The survey also revealed that 82.6% of participants believe that developing countries and the Global South should play a more significant role in defining AI governance rules to ensure fairness and inclusivity of the system. Moreover, 87.5% hope that the international community will work to promote accessible and comprehensive AI, preventing technology from becoming a new source of inequality.
Cultural Diversity and the Future of AI
These results reflect not only general public expectations regarding AI governance but also a growing international consensus that the future of AI should be determined by openness and cooperation, rather than technological monopolies, and by inclusivity and common benefits, rather than regulatory restrictions. A civilization that can be understood, generalized, and interpreted exclusively through the models of another's AI has not yet reached a true era of intelligence. A truly fair global AI governance system must respect the diverse trajectories of development and the value systems of different countries and cultures, guaranteeing every civilization the right to understand the world through its own conceptual framework, to train intelligent systems on its own terms, and to appropriately shape the future of AI.
The values and ways of thinking inherent in different civilizations are not 'noise' that algorithms should eliminate, but indispensable sources of wisdom necessary for humanity to navigate an uncertain future. The goal of global AI governance is not to create a single 'correct' model of the world, but to ensure that no single understanding of the world becomes dominant. Governance is not the enemy of innovation; it is the second creation of innovation. The first occurs in the laboratory, where machines gain capabilities; the second is realized through institutions, ethical norms, and international cooperation, where technologies are endowed with purpose, boundaries, and responsibility. Intelligence without governance is merely force. However, intelligence shaped by shared values allows technology to become a genuine force for the benefit of all humanity.
In the age of artificial intelligence, AI governance concerns more than just common prosperity and collective security; it concerns our collective ability to shape the future. A truly just AI order must do more than just ensure the distribution of benefits from technological progress among all. It must also guarantee that every country and every civilization has a voice in setting the rules and determining the direction of AI's future. The future should not be a pre-determined model generated by a system, but an unfinished draft written collectively by humanity, remaining open to revision by all parties. The fact that machines have begun to think marks a milestone in technological history, and humanity's ability to jointly bear responsibility and maintain freedom of choice is a sign of civilizational progress.