Antigua and Barbuda in collaboration with the AI for Developing Countries Forum (AIFOD), convened its annual AI Summit at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, on 12th August 2026, under the theme: “Small Takes the Lead: The Future Belongs to the Many, Not the Few.”
The Summit is a gathering of governments, international organisations, policymakers, experts, and leaders from the AI industry to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping international affairs and to explore how smaller states can move from being primarily users and clients of emerging technologies to becoming active architects of the global AI landscape.
The Honourable E. P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration, with ministerial responsibility for Artificial Intelligence, during the summit’s opening delivered the keynote address under the theme “Small Takes the Lead: From Clients to Architects of Intelligence.”
In his address, Minister Greene reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s strong support for empowering small states to become “architects of the intelligence that will define our collective future.” He called for greater digital equality and meaningful representation in global AI decision-making, emphasizing that “wherever the future of AI is being written, the Global South must be present.”
Minister Greene underscored the importance of collective action as a pathway to AI sovereignty. He noted that “fifty nations of the Global South are prepared to not merely adopt a declaration but to build a permanent platform for collective negotiation.” He further stressed that “collective action is not merely strategy, it is solidarity.”
The Minister also highlighted the particular importance of AI sovereignty for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), describing it as a matter of “survival.” He called for greater prioritisation of AI applications that can strengthen resilience, including early-warning systems, disaster response, coastal monitoring, and the blue economy.
He stressed that these critical systems “must be ours”—locally owned and governed, aligned with national laws, capable of operating when connectivity is disrupted, and supported by local expertise. He called for international support not as an act of charity, but as an investment in global resilience, emphasizing that “a resilient SIDS is a resilient world.”
Opening Day Two of the Summit, Joy-Marie King, Director of International Trade, addressed the strategic importance of strengthening the position of small nations within the global AI ecosystem.
King emphasised that effective participation in the global AI ecosystem requires small states to leverage collective action, strengthen their technical and negotiating capacities, and develop strategic partnerships with academia, industry leaders, and international entities.
Her remarks also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and joint diplomatic platforms in ensuring that small states are not merely responding to technological developments, but are strategically positioned to influence the standards, frameworks, and partnerships that will shape and govern the future of AI.
The AI Summit aims at providing an important platform for governments, international organisations, policymakers, experts and AI industry players to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping international affairs and to consider how smaller states can move from being primarily users and clients of emerging technologies to becoming active architects of the global AI landscape.
Antigua and Barbuda’s leadership, through the Hon E. P Chet Greene reflects its commitment to ensuring that the perspectives and priorities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are represented in global discussions on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation and emerging technologies.
Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation comprises of The Honourable E. P. Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration; Miss Joy-Marie King, Director of International Trade; and Miss Andrea Jacobs, Crown Counsel and National AI Focal Point. The summit is slated to conclude on 14th August.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Antigua and Barbuda Co-hosts Artificial Intelligence Summit at the United Nations in Geneva..