Full Breakdown
AI Takes Center Stage at the 2026 UN General Assembly Amid Global Crises
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: 81st UN General Assembly convenes in New York
Hundreds of diplomats and heads of state gathered at the United Nations headquarters for the annual high-level week. The session runs from late September through early October, with the General Debate opening on September 20 and the Secretary-General’s final address slated for September 23 2025. More than 130 leaders are expected to speak, and the agenda is dominated by wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa, accelerating climate shocks, and, for the first time, a concerted focus on artificial-intelligence risks.
Background & Context
The assembly arrives as the post-World-War-II order faces strain. The United States and Israel have been at war with Iran for over six months, Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, and humanitarian crises flare in Gaza, Sudan and Myanmar. Scientists warn that “runaway” AI could threaten humanity, prompting the UN to elevate the issue to the top of the agenda. Outgoing Secretary-General António Guterres, completing his second term, has championed development, climate action and AI governance.
Key Diplomatic Engagements
- U.S. President Donald Trump will address the Assembly on Tuesday and hold a bilateral meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on September 20.
- Trump is also slated to meet Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham during the week.
- The U.S. State Department announced that Iran’s core delegation, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, will be granted visas under strict restrictions.
- The United States denied visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, forcing a video-link appearance.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to address the Assembly remotely, creating a “split-screen” diplomatic dynamic.
Data & Statistics
- Approximately 130 heads of state or government are scheduled to speak.
- The Security Council will hold a high-level AI meeting on Wednesday, the first dedicated UN forum on the technology.
- The United States has contributed $827 million of its roughly $4 billion annual dues, averting an immediate financial crisis for the UN.
Official Statements & Responses
- “Artificial intelligence will certainly be a major topic in my discussions with world leaders next week — and the United Nations will continue to explore practical ideas and approaches in the immediate days ahead,” — António Guterres, UN secretary.
- “The president will highlight how he and his administration have confronted complex problems head-on around the world,” — N. Mike Waltz, U.S. State Department.
Criticism & Opposition
- President Trump dismissed the UN’s effectiveness, stating, “It has such tremendous, tremendous potential, but it’s not even coming close to living up to that potential, for the most part.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- While the State Department confirmed visas for Iran’s core delegation, it simultaneously denied visas to Palestinian officials, a policy echoed by NPR and the Independent. No official explanation has been provided, leaving the diplomatic rationale unclear.
What’s Next
- The Security Council’s AI session on Wednesday will produce recommendations for global governance frameworks.
- A straw poll among Security Council members narrows the field of candidates to replace Guterres, with a deadline for a new Secretary-General by year-end.
- Bilateral meetings—including Trump’s talks with Mamdani, Burnham and Rodríguez—are expected to shape U.S. policy on the Iran war, Venezuelan oil deals and broader multilateral reform.