Remarks by Commissioner McGrath at the General Assembly of the United Nations' Side-Event on Shaping Democratic Agency over the course of AI Development

Remarks by Commissioner McGrath at the UNGA event on Shaping Democratic Agency over AI Development

Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It's a pleasure to join you at this important United Nations discussion on how countries can shape the development of AI. AI is not writing the future on its own. We are. Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than our ability to measure it, govern it and fully understand it.

A small number of actors shape much of its direction. But the future is not fixed. The responsibility is ours. Ours to lead, to set direction and to make sure that human dignity, democracy and public trust remain at the centre of this technological age. Countries still have agency. Democracies still have agency. Together, we can shape a path that is more inclusive, more coherent and more accountable.

In Europe, our approach is clear. Everything we do is built on strong foundations: fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law and a deeply human-centric vision of innovation. We want to make the most of AI. We want it to improve healthcare, strengthen industry, support public services and create new opportunities across our economies. But we also want AI with human agency, safeguards and accountability.

Because innovation and protection are not opposites. They depend on one another. Without trust, people will not embrace new technologies. Without legal certainty, businesses will not invest. Without safety, innovation will not endure.

That is the thinking behind the EU AI Act - the world's first comprehensive framework for trustworthy, transparent and human-centred AI. It takes a risk-based approach. It supports innovation and competitiveness, while safeguarding fundamental rights and public trust. But this is not only about rules. Europe is also investing in capacity, infrastructure and societal rollout. Because leadership in AI will be measured not only by the models we build, but by how they create value across society.

And in that society-wide approach, we must speak honestly about democracy. AI can widen access to information. But it can also distort public debate through deepfakes, disinformation and manipulation. We see this clearly in the growing challenge of safety in politics. Women in politics, local representatives and candidates already face intimidation and harassment, increasingly in the online space. AI can amplify that harm at scale and undermine the trust on which democratic life depends.

So, protecting democracy in the age of AI is now a core governance task. Europe is responding. Under the European Democracy Shield, we are strengthening democratic resilience and addressing information manipulation, disinformation and threats to political participation. We are working to protect the integrity of our information space and to ensure that political debate remains free, fair and safe.

But we need global guardrails. That is why the partnership between the EU and the UN matters so much. This event rightly focuses on democratic agency, international coherence and practical coordination on AI safety, standards and oversight. No country, and no region, can address them alone.

So let us work together to ensure that AI serves people, supports democracy and reflects our shared values. That is Europe's approach. And that is a mission we share with the United Nations.

Thank you.