While the US government is focused on domestic industrial strategy and China on technological dominance, a different, quieter battle is being fought on the global stage: the race for ethical AI governance. This week, Trinidad and Tobago, with support from UNESCO and the UNDP, launched a comprehensive national exercise to assess its preparedness for the ethical and inclusive adoption of AI.

This initiative uses UNESCO's AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM)—the first international diagnostic tool designed to evaluate a country’s ability to govern AI in alignment with human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Beyond Innovation: Governing the Gaps

The US and other G20 nations often prioritize "innovation first," which can lead to rapid deployment without adequate guardrails against bias and inequality. Trinidad and Tobago's exercise takes a holistic view, focusing on key dimensions that go beyond simple technological capability:

  • Legal and Regulatory: Assessing existing laws and gaps needed to manage AI risk.
  • Social and Cultural: Ensuring AI aligns with ethical principles and social inclusion.
  • Technological and Infrastructural: Evaluating foundational technology and existing gaps.

This is a move to ensure that AI becomes a "force for good, not a source for inequality," by shaping the national AI future not just with algorithms, but with local values and expertise.

A Model for the Global South

This initiative provides a crucial baseline for the Caribbean and other developing nations. It's a way to proactively ensure that foreign-built AI systems (whether it's a general LLM or an AI-powered water management system) are applied ethically and fairly to local populations.

My friend who works with the UN said that the biggest risk for developing nations isn't falling behind in AI deployment, but deploying systems that inherit the biases of Western or Chinese training data, leading to unfair outcomes in credit scoring, employment, or policing. This UNESCO framework is designed to prevent that.

Ethical Anchoring in Practice

This initiative builds on discussions UNESCO has been driving, such as focusing on ethical anchoring in AI governance in Indonesia. The central themes across these global policy discussions remain the same: responsible scaling of AI infrastructure, building local skills and capabilities, and ensuring fairness and transparency.

The fact that these conversations are happening at the national and international level signals a significant shift: global AI policy is no longer just being debated by the US and the EU; it's being defined by a broader coalition determined to make technology serve human needs.

My Take

This is the kind of policy work that genuinely excites me. While I focus on the tech, the ultimate impact of AI depends on how well countries govern it. Trinidad and Tobago’s use of the UNESCO RAM proves that smaller nations can lead the way in governance by focusing on ethical preparedness over speed.

The future of AI will be shaped by the values embedded in its regulatory frameworks. By creating a comprehensive AI readiness baseline, Trinidad and Tobago is ensuring that the technology benefits everyone in society, regardless of their background or access to resources. That kind of human-centered approach is something all major tech powers should be paying attention to.