Tshilidzi Marwala, rector of the UN University, says lawmakers do not need to become AI engineers to oversee AI regulations, but they do need a foundational understanding of the technology to ensure rules remain effective as AI evolves. Speaking to Geneva Solutions at the UN's Global Dialogue on AI Governance, Marwala also highlighted the need to better integrate AI's environmental impacts into policymaking, warning that energy, water, and land use must all be considered when regulating AI infrastructure.
Marwala said the UN University will open a new institute in Bologna focused on AI and big data, bringing policymakers closer to the technologies they are seeking to govern. He also highlighted the work of the UNU Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR), which provides independent scientific advice on frontier AI issues, including AI deception and AI model verification, to support global policymaking.
On education, Marwala argued that higher education must evolve alongside AI while continuing to develop the human capabilities that remain indispensable, including critical thinking, sound judgment, curiosity, clear communication, and the ability to critically evaluate AI-generated content.
