Leaders from around the world descended on New York City last week for the 80th United Nations General Assembly, working toward a vision of “better together” as they tackled climate concerns, mounting economic uncertainty and seemingly intractable barriers to peace.

Vast and varied as that agenda was, one question wormed its way into every conversation: What role could technology play in solving — or exacerbating — these problems? And what does the future of digital governance look like?

This is not a question public leaders can answer alone. The way we interact with technology hinges as significantly on the companies that create and distribute it as it does on those who set policy. Nor is it an easy problem for public and private leaders to solve together. While national governments are responsible for the wellbeing of their citizens, private entities must answer to shareholders, partners and their often global customer bases.

Yet, in essence, both parties are after the same things — among them, data security, a more seamless cross-border commerce flow and the public trust that underlies it all.

To take on this formidable theme, Mastercard together with co-founders AT&T, Oracle and GSMA announced the Digital Ambassadors Forum, a new public-private initiative in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding. The Forum is intended to create space for public and private sector leaders to bridge geopolitical divides and promote a cohesive approach to digital policy and global digital governance, hosting the inaugural convening of DAF at Mastercard’s New York City Tech Hub on September 23. There, key leaders spoke frankly about technology’s most pressing issues. 

The ultimate goal, according to Mastercard Chief Administrative Officer Richard Verma, a former American diplomat and deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of State, was to “[build] bridges across those fault lines to make the most of this critical moment.”

Here are three takeaways from these conversations.

In decades past, the U.N. may have been trending toward more cooperation and lowered barriers between countries. But more recently, the world has fragmented into something resembling an archipelago, according to Nader Mousavizadeh, founding partner and CEO of global consultancy Macro Advisory Partners.

Now nations are dealing with the “politics of identity, autonomy and sovereignty,” he said. “And it’s not going away.”

But despite the fact that the “old globalization” is dead, it’s also true that nations don’t want to be left behind in this era of massive technological growth. That creates space for working together — especially with regard to public-private partnerships.

“Governments see the scale of this growth and want to be a part of it,” Mousavizadeh says. “So there’s certainly an openness to pragmatic policymaking. Partnerships here can be very powerful.” 

No discussion of digital governance would be complete without grappling with AI, and its potential to transform life as we know it at warp speed. This is a key area where private-sector companies and their expertise can work in concert with governments, targeting AI for the public good, participants said.

For instance, Oracle’s Simon de Montfort Walker, executive vice president for Central Industry Solutions, Embedded Finance and Industry Consulting, AI can be deployed to deliver “fine-grain insights” on areas such as agriculture, identifying which fertilizers should be used in which fields. Or, in health care, it can help local clinics deliver better outcomes. It’s all part of “moving government work from the clerical to the analytical,” he said.

Singapore, known for its tech-forward stance, is on the vanguard of such efforts. The country’s chief artificial intelligence officer, He Ruimin, explains that Singapore has several key advantages — as a small nation, it is easier to provide connectivity to all, and most people trust the government . But his core advice remains relevant regardless of region: “If you want to be a good regulator, you have to wrestle with the technology yourself.”

Digital governance is no longer a “boutique issue,” said Christopher Painter, founding partner of The Cyber Policy Group. It’s integral to every component of a nation’s most urgent priorities, including national security, economic growth and international diplomacy.

Former Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez put the challenge most succinctly — and drew the biggest laugh of the day — when he asked: “How do we make sure AI doesn’t turn into ‘Ay-yay-yay!’?”

Former Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez, left, moderated a panel on the future of digital cooperation featuring Alexander De Croo, former Belgian prime minister, center, and Nasir Yammama, senior special assistant for the Nigerian Office of the Presidency, right. (Photo courtesy of BCIU)

There is certainly reason to be concerned, according to former Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, with information being misused and weaponized every day, and little restraining force from the world’s great powers right now.

But De Croo sees technology and cooperation on digital governance as one potential bright spot. “Maybe that’s where relevance can be rebuilt again,” he said. “So, I’m worried — but also hopeful.”