President Paul Kagame has been appointed Chair of the United Nations’ new AI for Good Global Commission, a body established to advance the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) worldwide.
The Head of State will serve alongside Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff in this role, while the Secretary-General of the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Doreen Bogdan-Martin, will serve as Vice Chair.
The commission’s primary mission is to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) plays a significant role in reducing the global digital divide, helping bridge the gap between developed and developing countries in access to and use of advanced technologies.
The commission is supported by the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its work will build on the achievements of the UN Commission on Broadband, which worked to expand internet access around the world from 2010 to 2025.
Rather than introducing strict regulations, the commission will focus on guiding global discussions on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), developing technical standards and best practices, and helping countries build the capacity needed to harness AI effectively.
The commission brings together more than 40 leaders from across government, industry, academia, and civil society. Its members include prominent technology executives such as Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, Andy Jassy of Amazon, Brad Smith of Microsoft, as well as representatives from leading AI companies including Anthropic and Cohere.
The commission also includes leaders from companies such as Accenture and Reliance Industries, as well as the Presidents of Estonia and Iceland, cabinet ministers from Singapore and Nigeria, and senior officials from the United Nations’ trade agency and the African Union.
Over more than two decades as Rwanda’s President, President Paul Kagame has helped transform the country into one of Africa’s leading technology and innovation hubs. He also brings extensive experience in advancing digital development, having previously chaired the United Nations Broadband Commission, which focused on expanding internet access around the world.
In Rwanda, artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used across a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, education, justice, agriculture, commerce, security, and many other areas of national development.
On June 8, 2026, Rwanda’s Cabinet approved the establishment of a National Artificial Intelligence Agency to accelerate innovation, drive economic development, attract investment, and strengthen public governance through AI.
As Chair of the AI for Good Global Commission, President Paul Kagame is expected to focus on ensuring that developing countries are not left behind in the global AI revolution. His vision is to help transform AI initiatives into practical investments that foster innovation and deliver tangible economic and social benefits.
Marc Benioff, co-founder of Salesforce, is internationally recognized for his advocacy of expanding access to technology around the world. He has consistently emphasized that one of the greatest challenges surrounding AI is preserving trust between people.
The entrepreneur and philanthropist also argues that the benefits of AI will have little value unless the technology is safe, secure, and trustworthy for its users. He therefore stresses that the risks associated with AI must be addressed proactively to ensure its responsible development and use.
Proud of you Your Excellence Paul Kagame the Pride of Africa