The Legal Vacuum in Global AI Governance: Issues and Opportunities

Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has brought about transformative opportunities across various sectors, while simultaneously raising profound legal, ethical, and societal concerns. Despite the global scope of AI’s development and deployment, there is currently no binding international legal framework specifically governing its use. This absence creates significant challenges, including regulatory fragmentation, legal uncertainty, and risks related to human rights, safety, and accountability. This paper explores the key obstacles to establishing a unified global regime, such as geopolitical tensions, diverging national interests, and differing approaches to ethical principles. It also examines existing regional and soft law initiatives, such as the European Union’s AI Act and the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, assessing their potential to inform future international consensus. Finally, the study highlights possible pathways for progress, emphasizing the need for multilateral cooperation, inclusive governance models, and flexible legal instruments that can adapt to the evolving nature of AI. The analysis underscores the urgency of developing a coherent international legal response to ensure that AI technologies are aligned with shared global values and human-centric principles.