Iceland’s President Halla Tómasdóttir says trust—not technology—will define the AI era, urging global leaders to prioritize children, ethics, and responsible governance as artificial intelligence evolves.
WEBDESK – MEDIABITES NEWS – IMRAN MALIK
As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes economies, workplaces, and societies, Iceland’s President Halla Tómasdóttir has delivered a powerful reminder that the greatest challenge of the AI age is not technological advancement—but trust.
Reflecting on her participation at the AI for Good Summit in Geneva, the Icelandic leader said the world’s success with AI will ultimately depend on whether innovation is guided by responsibility, human dignity, and the wellbeing of future generations.
“The defining challenge of the AI age is not technology—it is trust,” President Tómasdóttir wrote after attending the summit.
AI must serve humanity
The President stressed that societies must build trust that artificial intelligence will serve humanity rather than undermine it.
She identified three essential pillars for the AI era:
- Trust that innovation serves humanity.
- Trust that power is matched by responsibility.
- Trust that children inherit a future where AI expands opportunity rather than diminishes human agency, creativity, or human connection.
Her remarks come as governments worldwide race to establish regulatory frameworks for increasingly powerful AI systems while balancing innovation with public safety.
Global dialogue offers hope
During her visit to Geneva, President Tómasdóttir participated in the United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance, joined the launch of the Global Commission on AI for Good, and engaged with leaders from governments, businesses, academia, and civil society.
Rather than focusing on disagreements, she highlighted what she described as a growing international consensus around the values AI should promote.
According to the President, leaders from diverse backgrounds increasingly agree that AI should be built around human dignity, inclusion, fairness, safety, opportunity, and peace.
From principles to action
While welcoming the emerging consensus, President Tómasdóttir warned that shared values alone are not enough.
She called for trusted institutions, meaningful guardrails, internationally shared standards where possible, and political courage to govern AI without stifling innovation.
“The challenge now is to translate those shared aspirations into practical action,” she said.
Children must remain at the center
One of the strongest messages from the Icelandic President was that children and young people should be at the heart of AI policymaking.
She argued that today’s younger generations will live longest with the AI systems currently being designed, making their wellbeing one of the most important benchmarks for responsible innovation.
“Their wellbeing, their ability to flourish, and their opportunity to shape the future should become one of the most important measures of our success,” she said.
Technology reflects human choices
President Tómasdóttir concluded that artificial intelligence itself will not determine humanity’s future.
Instead, she said the future will be shaped by the values people choose to embed into AI systems, the trust societies build, and the leadership demonstrated by governments, innovators, educators, scientists, and citizens working together.
Her message echoes growing global calls for human-centered AI, emphasizing that technological progress must remain aligned with ethics, transparency, and public interest.
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