Estonian president attending high-level information society summit in Geneva

TALLINN - Estonian President Alar Karis is on a working visit to Geneva to participate in the high-level World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and to meet with heads of UN agencies.

Karis will deliver two speeches at the summit, focusing on international cooperation in the development of artificial intelligence and the creation and implementation of global regulation. He will also present Estonia's AI education initiative, the AI Leap program, and its objectives.

"Estonia shares its experience in developing e-government solutions with developing countries to support their progress toward independence from foreign aid," the president said. "Our experience has taught us to view technological advancement and use primarily as an opportunity, and the same goes for artificial intelligence. When it comes to managing technology and the internet, it is important to involve a wide range of stakeholders in addition to governments. That is how we ensure digital-age solutions are sustainable and serve the broader interests of society."

On the sidelines of the summit, Karis will discuss UN reform developments and Russian-funded disinformation campaigns with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. They will also address the need to strengthen the UN's human rights framework and Estonia's candidacy for the Human Rights Council.

In the president's meeting with ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Karis will discuss the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea region, including how to better counter the growing number of deliberate radio interference incidents and ensure the safety of undersea communication cables.

During his meeting with Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Karis will introduce Estonia's e-governance solutions and how they are being shared with developing countries. They will also discuss how to better integrate developing countries into the global trade system.

The WSIS+20 summit in Geneva brings together leading global experts and decision-makers to shape the future direction of technological development and AI governance.

The president will return to Estonia on Friday.