by Editor BGF | Dec 7, 2025 | News
A milestone in the history of global AI governance emerged from the collaboration between the World Leadership Alliance–Club de Madrid (CdM) and the Boston Global Forum (BGF), culminating in the development of the Social Contract for the AI Age—a foundational framework for ethical, human-centered digital governance.
In 2019, CdM and BGF jointly called for a new social contract to guide societies through the profound transformations brought by artificial intelligence. This vision took shape through a series of high-level dialogues and was further advanced at the Transatlantic Policy Lab (September 16–18, 2020), where former heads of state, leading scholars, AI experts, and policymakers examined the urgent need for shared norms, values, and institutions for the AI era.
The resulting Social Contract for the AI Age proposes:
- a “digital TCP/IP” for international cooperation,
- principles of justice, equity, transparency, and human dignity,
- mechanisms to monitor and evaluate AI practices,
- a global Democratic Alliance for Digital Governance, and
- the creation of AIWS City as a practical model of the new digital society.
The initiative marked a historic step toward responsible AI governance and solidified BGF’s leadership in shaping a humane digital future. It remains one of the seminal moments in the evolution of AI ethics and global policy.
The final report is here:
https://clubmadrid. org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Final-Report-Policy-Lab-Transatlantic-Approaches-on-de-Digital-Age.pdf
by Editor BGF | Nov 30, 2025 | World Leader for Peace and Security, News, World Leaders in AIWS Award Updates
December 1
The Boston Global Forum and the AI World Society extend our heartfelt congratulations to President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, the 2019 World Leader for Peace and Security Award recipient, on the occasion of her birthday, December 1, 1937.
President Vīķe-Freiberga is a distinguished global stateswoman and former President of the Club de Madrid, the world’s leading forum of democratic former heads of state and government. Her leadership strengthened the Club’s impact on global democratic governance and elevated international dialogue on peace, security, and human dignity.
We are especially grateful for her exceptional contributions to the partnership between the Boston Global Forum and the Club de Madrid. Her vision and intellectual leadership were instrumental in shaping two of our most significant initiatives: the Social Contract for the AI Age and the AI World Society (AIWS) Model. Her wisdom, moral clarity, and commitment to ethical governance have provided essential guidance as we work to build a world where AI serves humanity with compassion, responsibility, and respect for human rights.
President Vīķe-Freiberga remains one of the great moral and intellectual voices of our time. Her legacy—from leading Latvia into a new era of democracy, to advising global institutions on human rights and ethical governance—continues to inspire leaders and citizens around the world.
On this special day, we celebrate her remarkable achievements, her enduring contributions to global peace and democracy, and her invaluable role in advancing the principles of an ethical, human-centered AI future. We wish President Vīķe-Freiberga continued health, joy, and strength, and we honor her as a guiding light in the international movement for enlightened leadership.
With deepest respect and warmest congratulations,
Boston Global Forum
AI World Society (AIWS)
by Editor BGF | Sep 29, 2025 | News
At the Boston Global Forum – Club de Madrid Conference (September 2020), world leaders and policy innovators launched the Social Contract for the AI Age.
Significance:
- One of the earliest comprehensive frameworks linking AI governance with democratic values.
- Called for ethics, accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness in the design and deployment of AI.
- Positioned AI as a force for peace, human dignity, and equality rather than division or exploitation.
- Became the foundation for later initiatives such as AIWS Government 24/7, the Boston Finance Accord for AI Governance 24/7, and the Abe AI Finance Protocol.
Global Impact:
- Shaped early international discussions on democratic AI governance.
- Provided intellectual groundwork for alliances and frameworks championed by BGF and its partners.
- Its relevance was strongly reaffirmed at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in 2025, where leaders issued renewed calls for urgent action on democratic AI governance.
🔗 World Leaders Call for Urgent Action on Democratic AI Governance at UNGA80
by Editor | Aug 13, 2023 | Event Updates, News
The three-day Final Summit of Civil20 (C20), an official Engagement Group of G20, came to a successful close in Jaipur. The summit resulted in the presentation of the C20 Communique, a comprehensive inclusive survey and policy recommendations developed. This significant document was handed over to the G20 Secretariat and representatives of G20.
Here is an excerpt from the C20 Communique:
“We recognize the rapid and widespread change brought about by digital transformation, offering unprecedented advancements for improving the human condition. However, we call for the recognition that education or digital technologies, when improperly or maliciously used, can fuel divisions within and between societies and countries, increase insecurity, undermine human rights, and exacerbate inequalities and fervently hope that the G20 leaders will take cognizance of this and take necessary collective action. Education on emerging technologies and collaboration between stakeholders and countries is necessary for beneficial use and mitigation of potential harm and collaboration between stakeholders and countries to deal with the ever-evolving digital environment and promote a secure and inclusive digital world. We call for a new social contract to unite and protect an Artificial Intelligence World Society.”
Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, the CEO of Boston Global Forum, took the stage as a distinguished keynote speaker at the C20 Summit, delivering a compelling address. He spoke about the potential of the AI World Society (AIWS) model, emphasizing its role in shaping a more promising future for the global community through AI. With profound insight, Mr. Tuan also underscored the significance of integrating the spiritual values championed by Amma, highlighting their capacity to guide us towards a world enriched by compassion, understanding, and enlightenment.
Please download the C20 Communique here.
Nguyen Anh Tuan speaks at C20-G20 Summit India 2023
by Editor | Jan 15, 2023 | News
ChatGPT can be used as an AI assistant for writing tasks such as essays, press releases, and speeches. The model’s advanced language understanding capabilities can help users generate text that is coherent, grammatically correct, and in line with their intended meaning. However, it’s important to keep in mind that GPT-3 is a machine learning model and its output may not be entirely accurate or appropriate, it’s always good to proofread and fact-check before publishing or submitting any work. Additionally, it’s important to use GPT-3 in a way that respects the rights and privacy of individuals, as outlined in the AIWS Social Contract for the AI Age.
The Social Contract for the AI Age introduced and considered the AI Assistant as a power center.
The History of AI House discussed about ChatGPT as an AI Assistant.
AI assistants are a center of power in the Social Contract for the AI age. In the AI age, ChatGPT and other AI systems have the potential to fundamentally change the way society functions and the nature of the social contract.
As a center of power, an AI Assisant can assist leaders in making decisions that affect society, such as those related to healthcare, education, and the economy. By providing data-driven insights and predictions, ChatGPT – AI Assistant can help leaders identify patterns and trends that can inform policy decisions and improve social outcomes. Additionally, ChatGPT – AI Assistant can assist in automating repetitive tasks and creating written documents, which can improve efficiency and productivity in various sectors.
However, the increasing use of AI systems also raises ethical and legal concerns, such as privacy, bias, and accountability. It is important to ensure that the Social Contract for the AI Age, fair and just, taking into account the rights and interests of all members of society.
Overall, ChatGPT as an AI assistant can be seen as a center of power in the Social Contract for the AI Age, providing valuable assistance to leaders while also raising important ethical and legal considerations. It is important to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared equitably and that the rights and interests of all members of society are protected.
by Editor | Jul 10, 2022
The Quad Roundtable is a special side event of the Riga Conference 2020, Session Quad Roundtable” the Quad Group, AIWS Social Contract and solutions for world peace and security”, co-organized by the Latvian Transatlantic Organization (LATO) and the Boston Global Forum.
Time and date: 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm (Riga time), November 12, 2020 , Virtual Roundtable.
Speakers:
Governor Michael Dukakis, Chairman of the Boston Global Forum (US),
Defense State Minister Yasuhide Nakayama (Japan),
Senator Kimberley Kitching, Chair of Foreign Affair, Defence and Trade Reference Committee (Australia),
Ambassador P.S Raghavan, Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board (India)
On 16-18, September, the World Leadership Alliance-Club de Madrid and the Boston Global Forum co-organized the Policy Lab “Transatlantic Approaches on Digital Governance: A New Social Contract in the Age of AI”, in which presidents, prime ministers, distinguished thinkers, and scholars discussed the Social Contract for the AI Age, and saw it as significant standards for world politics and economy in the 21st century.
How can the Quad Group (US, Japan, Australia and India) support and maintain peace and security? What is the role of each member?
How can the Quad contribute to peace and security in the European, Atlantic, and Baltic regions?
How can democratic governments support and use the Social Contract for the AI Age as standards for international relations and for peace and security?
How can democratic governments recognize and implement the Social Contract for the AI Age?
by Editor | Jan 9, 2022 | Event Updates
At 9:00 AM, January 17, 2022, Professor Thomas Patterson, co-founder of Boston Global Forum, Research Director of Michael Dukakis Institute, will give a lecture for the AI World Society Leadership Program 2021-2022.
The goal of our AIWS Leadership Program is to help students understand changing technology and its implications. We’ve created a series of lectures that address major features of the digital age and the challenges and opportunities they present.
Each of our presenters is a thought leader in the field of digital technology. They come from some of the world’s top institutions, including Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. And nearly all of them have spent time in the private sector or government service. They will share with you their high-level practical experience, as well as their scholarly knowledge.
Each lecture is directed at the needs of the innovative leader and thinker – what you will need to know to successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities of the Digital Age.
One of our initiatives is a Social Contract for the AI Age. In this effort, we’ve worked closely with the United Nations Academic Impact Program and with the Club de Madrid, which is the organization of former heads of state and heads of government of democratic countries.
Our Social Contract defines what we see as the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of individuals, governments, firms, and other entities in the digital age.
By definition, a social contract is based on the rights and interests of individuals, and what governments and other entities must do and are prohibited from doing to safeguard those rights and interests.
by Editor | Nov 7, 2021 | Global Alliance for Digital Governance, Global Law and Accord on AI and Digital, News
With more than 40 presidents, prime ministers and distinguished leaders and thinkers, under a 3-day agenda, the Global Baku Forum was hosted on November 4-6, 2021.
The Social Contract for the AI Age was recommended as a standard for international relation.
Here are some participants from the Global Baku Forum:
Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Milo Dukanovic, President of Montenegro
Sefik Dzaferovic, Member of the Presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina
Egils Levits, President of the Republic of Latvia
Nathalia Gavrilita, Prime Minister of Moldova
Mohammad Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of the State of Palestine
His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State
Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva
Miguel Angel Moratinos, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization
Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Co-Chair, NGIC; President of Latvia 1999-2007
Ismail Serageldin, Co-Chair, NGIC; Vice President of the World Bank 1992-2000
Tarja Halonen, President of Finland 2000-2012
Ivo Josipovic, President of Croatia 2010-2015
Zlatko Lagumdzija, Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2001-2002; deputy Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2012-2015
Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium 2008, 2009-2011
Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the UK 2007-2010
Ehud Barak, Prime Minister of Israel 1999-2001
Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand 1999-2008
Emil Constantinescu, President of Romania 1996-2000
Chiril Gaburici, Prime Minister of Moldova 2015
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of Mauritius 2015-2018
Dalia Itzik, President of Israel 2007, President of Knesset 2006-2009
Gjorge Ivanov, President of North Macedonia 2009-2019
Mladen Ivanic, President of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2014-2018
Jan Fischer, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic 2009-2010
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, President of Croatia 2015-2020
Petru Lucinschi, President of Moldova 1997-2001
Igor Luksic, Prime Minister of Montenegro 2010-2012
Moussa Mara, Prime Minister of Mali 2014-2015
Stjepan Mesic, President of Croatia 2000-2010
Festus Mogae, President of Botswana 1998-2008; Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General on Climate Change
Petre Roman, Prime Minister of Romania 1989-1991
Rosalia Arteago, Serrano President of Ecuador 1997
Laimdota Straujuma, Prime Minister of Latvia 2014-2016
Danilo Turk, President of Slovenia 2007-2012
Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine 2005-2010
Binali Yildirim, Prime Minister of Turkey 2016-2018; Speaker of the Grand National Assembly 2018-2019
Valdis Zatlers, President of Latvia 2007-2011
Amre Moussa Secretary-General, Arab League 2001-2011; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt 1991-2001
Rosen Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria 2012-2017
Petar Stoyanov, President of Bulgaria 1997-2002
Boris Tadic, President of Serbia 2004-2012
Filip Vujanovic, President of Montenegro 2003-2018
Eka Tkeshelashvili, Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia 2010-2012
Kateryna Yushchenko, First Lady of Ukraine 2005-2010
Ana Birchall, Deputy Prime Minister of Romania 2018-2019; Minister of Justice 2019; Member of the Parliament of Romania
Gennady Burbulis, First Deputy Prime Minister to the Russian Federation 1991-1992, State Secretary
Cemil Chichek, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey 2007-2011; Speaker of the Grand National Assembly 2011-2015
Volkan Bozkır, President of the 75th UN General Assembly; Minister of European Union Affairs of the Republic of Turkey 2015-2016
Mats Karlsson, Former Vice-President of the World Bank
Ouided Bouchamaoui, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2015
Nguyen Anh Tuan, Co-founder and CEO of the Boston Global Forum, the Editor of the book “Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment”.
Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulbgl_FmJzI
Boston Global Forum is a partner of NGIC.
by Editor | Oct 31, 2021 | News
Speaking at Club de Madrid’s Policy Dialog “Rethinking Democracy” on October 27, 2021, Professor Thomas Patterson, Harvard University, co-founder of the Boston Global Forum, Distinguished Contributor of Remaking the World – Toward an Age of Global Enlightenment, highlighted the Social Contract for the AI Age and concepts in the book as fundamentals for democracy in the digital era.
Aleksander Kwasniewski, former President of Poland, claimed that “after the collapse of the USSR, we thought that ‘the End of History’ was here but China offers a real alternative that for many is more appealing than democracy. In China we have a real competitor”.
In this line, Derek Mitchell, President of the National Democratic Institute, urged that “We need to understand how China works at home and abroad”. At the same time, he stated that the decline in the quality of democracy “is a practical challenge, not a theoretical one. We need to ensure democracy delivers”.
Democracy is no longer a matter of voting every 4 years and then exercising a mandate until the next election. “We need new schemes of representation, a more liquid democracy”, said Former PM of Belgium Yves Leterme.
Former PM of the Netherlands Jan Peter Balkenende, emphasised democratic culture: “Democracy is not the majority winning and dominating, but rather the majority taking care of the minority”.
Former Vice President of Costa Rica Casas-Zamora also encouraged democratic innovation in terms of representation: “The basic setups of democracy have been around for 100 years. It is time to rethink it. It is time to be bold, embrace innovation and reform. We need to come up with new institutions and new types of deliberation”.
Speakers demanded of the upcoming Democracy Summit convened by U.S. President, Joe Biden, to make a categorical defence of democracy. Activists expressed the need for democracies to become more proactive in defending such systems internally and externally.
