APO–ADBI–UNU AI Summit 2026

As a flagship activity under the GAIA platform, the APO–ADBI–UNU GAIA Summit 2026 will bring together senior policymakers, international organizations, private-sector leaders, researchers, and academics to translate emerging international AI governance principles into practical approaches for productivity enhancement and responsible AI adoption across Asia and the Pacific. The summit will be jointly organized by the APO, ADBI, and UNU, combining their complementary expertise in productivity enhancement, economic and policy research, development capacity building, AI governance, and sustainable development. The Concept Note positions the summit specifically as a response to the widening gap between international AI principle-setting and the practical implementation capacity of economies and enterprises.

The summit will strengthen international cooperation on the GAIA platform by connecting AI governance with practical implementation, enterprise productivity, manufacturing transformation, skill development, AI safety, institutional capacity, and regional cooperation. It will provide APO member economies with opportunities to exchange national experiences, examine emerging international governance and transparency frameworks, and identify practical mechanisms through which AI can contribute to measurable productivity gains. This is consistent with the objectives of translating international AI frameworks into practical guidance, connecting AI governance with measurable productivity outcomes, consolidating the 2026 GAIA cycle, and strengthening alignment with the broader multilateral AI architecture.

Particular emphasis will be placed on connecting policy discussions with practical implementation. The program will include a high-level cross-sector dialogue involving governments, international organizations, leading AI companies, and academic institutions, with discussions focused on translating AI governance principles into deployment, productivity gains, responsible innovation, and capacity building.

It will also address AI-enabled manufacturing and productivity, frontier AI and systemic risks, international AI transparency and reporting frameworks, enterprise-level AI deployment, AI safety, talent development, and research collaboration.

Through this activity, Japan will support the development of the GAIA platform as a regional mechanism linking international AI discussions with concrete, productivity-oriented action in APO member economies. The summit is expected to strengthen institutional networks among governments, NPOs, international organizations, academia, and the private sector and provide a foundation for continued GAIA activities and cooperation beyond 2026.

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