193
UN Member States
Represented at the Dialogue
2
Co-Chair Nations
El Salvador & Estonia
1st
Global AI Dialogue
In UN history
What Is the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance?
Mandated by the UN General Assembly under the Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future, the Global Dialogue on AI Governance is a first-of-its-kind convening. It brings together all 193 UN Member States, tech giants, academia, and civil society to shape how artificial intelligence should be governed globally.
This is not a talk shop. The Dialogue's outcomes will inform international norms, capacity-building programs, and a proposed Partnership Hub on AI to showcase innovations from every region. The inaugural meeting took place on July 6-7, 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, and it marks the beginning of a structured, multilateral process that could redefine how humanity manages AI.
Why El Salvador?
The question on everyone's lips: how did the smallest country in Central America end up co-chairing the most important AI governance conversation in history? The answer lies in El Salvador's extraordinary track record of digital-first policy:
1. The Bitcoin Precedent
In September 2021, El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. That single decision forced the nation to build digital infrastructure, create regulatory frameworks for emerging technology, and engage with global financial institutions — exactly the kind of hands-on experience that makes El Salvador uniquely qualified to discuss AI governance at the highest level.
2. Doctor SV: AI in Practice
El Salvador didn't just talk about AI — it deployed it. Doctor SV, the AI-powered telemedicine platform built on Google Gemini, now serves 4.5 million Salvadorans — roughly 70% of the population. A recent $75 million expansion approved by the Legislative Assembly is adding 400 medication-dispensing kiosks nationwide. This is not theoretical AI policy. It's AI governance built from lived experience.
3. NVIDIA Sovereign AI Partnership
In 2026, El Salvador partnered with NVIDIA and WideLabs to create Nemotron-Personas-El-Salvador — the world's first open sovereign AI dataset for Central America. The project generated 1 million synthetic citizen profiles using B300 Blackwell supercomputers, setting a global benchmark for privacy-first AI development.
4. International Trust
El Salvador's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Egriselda López, articulated why the nation was chosen: "Que El Salvador tenga el privilegio de copresidir este proceso refleja la confianza en nuestro país y nuestro firme compromiso con el multilateralismo." Translation: El Salvador's co-chair role reflects deep international trust in the country's modern trajectory and its firm commitment to multilateralism.
Who Is Leading El Salvador's Delegation?
The Salvadoran delegation at this historic event is led by Vice President Félix Ulloa hijo, representing the nation's highest-level commitment to digital transformation. Ambassador Egriselda López serves as co-chair alongside Estonia's Ambassador Rein Tammsaar, with key support from global bodies including the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and UNESCO to ensure all world regions are fairly represented.
The choice of El Salvador and Estonia as co-chairs is symbolic and strategic. Both are small nations that have punched well above their weight in digital governance — Estonia is widely recognized as the world's most advanced digital society, while El Salvador has become the developing world's most audacious technology adopter.
What the Dialogue Covers
The Global Dialogue on AI Governance addresses three critical pillars:
Three Pillars of the Global Dialogue
Capacity-Building
Ensuring developing nations can build, deploy, and govern AI systems — not just consume them.
Partnership Hub on AI
A global platform to showcase AI innovations and connect developed and developing nations in collaboration.
Inclusive Governance
Creating frameworks that prevent AI from widening existing inequalities between countries and regions.
Why This Matters for Travelers and Visitors
You might be wondering: what does UN AI governance have to do with visiting El Salvador? Everything.
AI-Powered Tourism Is Here
El Salvador's leadership in AI governance directly translates to better experiences for visitors. The same government that's co-chairing global AI rules is the one building the digital infrastructure that powers ia.sv — the AI travel assistant that knows El Salvador like no other. When the people writing the rules also build the tools, you get systems that are safe, ethical, and genuinely useful.
A Safer, Smarter Destination
El Salvador's commitment to AI governance means the technology transforming the country — from Doctor SV's healthcare to smart tourism — operates under frameworks designed to protect people. The nation isn't just adopting AI blindly. It's helping write the global rulebook.
Join the AI-First Nation
Whether you're a digital nomad seeking 0% income tax, a Bitcoin holder looking for residency, or a traveler chasing volcanoes and beaches, El Salvador's AI-first approach makes every interaction smoother, safer, and more personalized.
The Bigger Picture: AI Governance Is the New Geopolitics
The UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance isn't just a technical exercise. It's a geopolitical inflection point. The nations that shape AI governance today will influence how technology develops for decades — affecting everything from healthcare and education to national security and economic development.
El Salvador's co-chair role means the country has a permanent seat at the table where the next generation of global innovation and tech security standards are being written. This positions El Salvador not just as a regional leader, but as a global voice for how developing nations can and should participate in the AI revolution.
🌍 For the World
A more inclusive AI governance framework where developing nations have equal voice in shaping technology that affects billions.
🇸🇻 For El Salvador
International credibility as a technology leader, stronger ties with the US and EU on digital policy, and a magnet for AI-focused investment and talent.
El Salvador's AI Ecosystem: By the Numbers
The UN co-chair role didn't come from nowhere. El Salvador has been building its AI credentials brick by brick:
- 4.5 million Salvadorans served by Doctor SV's AI-powered telemedicine
- $75 million invested in Doctor SV Phase 2 expansion
- 1 million synthetic citizen profiles in the NVIDIA Nemotron-Personas sovereign AI dataset
- 7,700+ BTC in El Salvador's Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
- 2.1 million international visitors in just the first 5 months of 2026
- $871 million in tourism revenue in Q1 2026 alone
- Level 1 US State Department travel advisory — same as France and Japan
What Happens Next?
The Geneva meeting is just the beginning. The Global Dialogue on AI Governance will continue through 2026 and beyond, with further sessions, written inputs from Member States, and consultation meetings. El Salvador and Estonia will guide the process toward concrete outcomes: governance frameworks, capacity-building programs, and the AI Partnership Hub.
For El Salvador, this co-chair role amplifies everything the country has been building. It's no longer just the Bitcoin nation or the safest country in Latin America — it's the nation that's helping write the global rules for the most transformative technology in human history.
🇸🇻 Experience the AI-First Nation
El Salvador isn't just governing AI — it's living it. Plan your trip with ia.sv, the AI travel assistant built specifically for El Salvador, and experience a country that's writing the future.
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