Institutions put AI at center of development and security plans

International organizations are moving AI from policy debate into institutional programs that shape development, security and competitiveness. The UN is building governance capacity through the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, which issued a preliminary assessment in July 2026 and is expected to publish a comprehensive report in 2027, and through its AI Governance for Humanity Lab in Valencia.

The World Bank is treating AI as development policy. Its World Development Report 2026 estimates that 16.2% of jobs in developing economies could see meaningful productivity gains from AI, while recommending a three-stage path: adopt existing tools, adapt them locally and advance toward more sophisticated capabilities. The Bank also links AI adoption to basics such as electricity, connectivity, computing capacity, data and skills.

NATO is accelerating defense-focused technology through DIANA, whose 2026 program includes 150 innovators, around 200 test centers and more than 600 mentors. DIANA selected ten companies working on AI, machine-learning and software for military decision-making, with each receiving €100,000. Financing is also expanding through NATO’s €1 billion Innovation Fund involving 24 Allied countries, while the European Investment Bank’s 2026-2028 plan prioritizes AI, data centers, cybersecurity and semiconductor ecosystems.