2020 — Social Contract for the AI Age

At the Boston Global Forum – Club de Madrid Conference (September 2020), world leaders and policy innovators launched the Social Contract for the AI Age.

Significance:

• One of the earliest comprehensive frameworks linking AI governance with democratic values.
• Called for ethics, accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness in the design and deployment of AI.
• Positioned AI as a force for peace, human dignity, and equality rather than division or exploitation.
• Became the foundation for later initiatives such as AIWS Government 24/7, the Boston Finance Accord for AI Governance 24/7, and the Abe AI Finance Protocol.

Global Impact:

• Shaped early international discussions on democratic AI governance.
• Provided intellectual groundwork for alliances and frameworks championed by BGF and its partners.
• Its relevance was strongly reaffirmed at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in 2025, where leaders issued renewed calls for urgent action on democratic AI governance.

🔗 World Leaders Call for Urgent Action on Democratic AI Governance at UNGA80