GAAN Newsletters

GAAN WEEKLY AI BRIEFING

For Members of the Global AI Advocates Network (GAAN) — Government Officials, NGO Leaders & Senior Policy Influencers

Week ending Saturday 27 June 2026  |  Published by GAAN  |  www.iaadai-agent.org

WEBINAR UPDATE

Webinar W006 on the Brain Drain Crisis — Keeping AI Talent at Home was completed on Saturday 20 June 2026. The video on this topic will be uploaded soon on YouTube channel @AIGrandad999.alanross and to our 10 language-specific channels (e.g. @AIGrandad999.alanross.Spanish, @AIGrandad999.alanross.Hindi, etc.) where we have now translated and uploaded our existing and new English language videos on many important topics of interest to those in the developing world. There are over 20 long and 12 short videos on each channel covering AI and major technical disruptions now underway which will severely impact your country, different sectors and different groups in your country. We encourage you to view and share these with your networks and ask them to visit and subscribe to the relevant language channels so they can be notified every time a new video is uploaded.

Our next free webinar, W007, is planned for Saturday 4 July at 1pm Dublin on the topic: "Digital Infrastructure — The Foundation that AI Needs." This webinar will examine why digital infrastructure is the critical missing layer for AI adoption in developing countries, what governments can do to accelerate it, and the concrete policy and investment steps that GAAN members can advocate for in their own countries.

Register now: https://waaa.academy/registration-for-webinar/

THIS WEEK'S KEY DEVELOPMENTS

1. UNCTAD: AI MARKET HEADING FOR $4.8 TRILLION — BUT DEVELOPING COUNTRIES RISK BEING LEFT BEHIND

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has highlighted a critical warning: while AI is projected to become a $4.8 trillion market by 2033, the benefits are becoming dangerously concentrated. Just 100 firms — predominantly located in the United States and China — account for 40% of global corporate AI research and development spending. Foreign direct investment to developing economies is similarly skewed, with 75% flowing to just ten countries. The vast majority of developing nations are receiving little to none of this transformative investment.

Why this matters for GAAN members: This data should alarm every GAAN member. The AI revolution is underway, but your country may be watching it happen from the outside. GAAN members in government need to urgently ask: where does our country stand in global AI investment flows? What targeted policy interventions — special economic zones for AI, tax incentives for data centres, sovereign AI funds — can shift this picture? The UNCTAD World Investment Forum meets in Doha in October 2026; GAAN members should ensure your government's voice is heard there.

Source: UNCTAD — unctad.org

2. UN SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS FOR $3 BILLION INVESTMENT FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AT AI IMPACT SUMMIT

UN Secretary-General António Guterres this week called for $3 billion in dedicated investment for developing countries at the AI Impact Summit, urging that strong guardrails be established to ensure the technology benefits everyone, not just the wealthiest nations. Guterres underscored that without deliberate and funded intervention, AI will deepen global inequality rather than reduce it. The call represents the highest-level UN endorsement yet of targeted financial commitments for LMIC AI capacity.

Why this matters for GAAN members: When the UN Secretary-General demands $3 billion for your countries, that is a mandate your government can use. GAAN members should take this statement directly to their ministers and finance officials. It creates a powerful opening to argue for: national AI development budgets, inclusion in multilateral AI funding mechanisms, and dedicated negotiating positions at international forums. Use this to push for your country's inclusion in any funding mechanisms that emerge.

Source: UN Press — press.un.org

3. GENEVA BECOMES GLOBAL AI CAPITAL: TWO CRITICAL SUMMITS IN JULY — DEVELOPING COUNTRY VOICES NEEDED

Two landmark events are back-to-back in Geneva in July. The inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance (6-7 July 2026), convened by the UN General Assembly and facilitated by Secretary-General Guterres, will set the framework for global AI governance and is the primary international forum for developing countries to shape the rules of AI. Immediately following, the ITU AI for Good Global Summit (7-10 July 2026) will showcase AI applications in healthcare, education, food security, and disaster risk reduction, with particular focus on developing country solutions. Participation support is available for eligible candidates from developing countries to attend the Governance Dialogue.

Why this matters for GAAN members: The rules for global AI are being written right now, in Geneva. If your government is not in the room, your country's interests will not be represented. GAAN members should urgently check whether their governments have nominated delegates to both events, and whether they have applied for the available participation support. The AI for Good Summit also offers an opportunity to learn about and showcase practical AI solutions for development challenges that GAAN members can champion in their own countries.  Dr Alan Ross, our Founder will be at the AI for Good Summit . If you will also be there contact him and arrange to meet up

Source: UNESCO — unesco.org | ITU — itu.int

4. IFC INVESTS $371 MILLION IN AI-READY DATA CENTRES IN INDIA- A MODEL FOR EMERGING MARKETS

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, announced a major investment of up to $371 million to support AI-ready, energy-efficient data centre infrastructure in India through a partnership with Sify Technologies. The investment supports the development of two next-generation data centres in Navi Mumbai and Chennai with a combined capacity of 103 megawatts, specifically built to handle AI workloads. IFC is providing $71 million in direct investment and mobilising up to an additional $300 million from other investors. Africa, by contrast, currently holds less than 1% of global data centre capacity and would need $2.6 trillion in investment by 2030 to bridge the infrastructure gap.

Why this matters for GAAN members: This investment demonstrates that the World Bank Group is prepared to back AI infrastructure in emerging markets- but the money is flowing where there is already demonstrated demand and policy readiness. GAAN members in governments that lack data centre capacity should use this example to make the case for: IFC engagement in their country, national digital infrastructure investment strategies, and public-private partnerships for AI infrastructure development. The gap between India and Africa on data centre capacity is not inevitable- but closing it requires deliberate government action now.

Source: IFC — ifc.org | World Bank — worldbank.org

5. AI TALENT BRAIN DRAIN: INDIA RECORDS HIGHEST NET OUTFLOW GLOBALLY- A CRISIS FOR EVERY DEVELOPING NATION

New data from the Global AI Brain Race Report 2026 and BCG's global talent analysis confirm that the AI talent brain drain from developing countries has reached a critical inflection point. India- which has the world's second-largest AI talent pool, with AI skills on LinkedIn growing 252% in recent years- recorded the highest net AI talent outflow of any country globally in 2025,  Nigeria's technology sector has raised urgent alarms about accelerating tech professional emigration. Encouragingly, research shows that 'brain regain' is achievable: China, Singapore, Rwanda and to a lesser extent India itself, have demonstrated that deliberate government investment in domestic AI ecosystems can reverse migration patterns.

Why this matters for GAAN members: Governments that pay for AI education and then watch their graduates emigrate are effectively subsidising the AI ecosystems of wealthy nations. This is both a development failure and a national security risk. GAAN members should bring three questions to their ministers this week: (1) What percentage of our AI graduates left the country in the past 12 months? (2) Does our government have a funded national AI talent retention strategy? (3) Are we actively engaging our AI diaspora to return? Our W006 webinar last week focussed on the Brain drain and our next W007 webinar on 4 July will focus on Digital Infrastructure- the foundational investment that makes staying at home competitive with emigrating.

Source: Global AI Brain Race Report 2026 — humanizeai.co | BCG — bcg.com

UPCOMING WEBINAR — Save the Date

Global Webinar W007: Digital Infrastructure — The Foundation that AI Needs

Saturday 4 July 2026  |  1:00pm Dublin (IST)  |  Free to attend

Without reliable electricity, affordable connectivity, and accessible computing power, AI cannot be deployed at scale in any country- no matter how good the policy intentions. This webinar examines what 'digital infrastructure for AI' actually means in practice, what it costs, which countries are building it successfully, and what concrete steps governments can take to accelerate it. Essential viewing for every GAAN member engaged in national AI strategy.

Register now: https://waaa.academy/registration-for-webinar/

GAAN members: please forward this weekly newsletter and webinar invitation to government contacts in your country. Invite them to view our YouTube videos on this and relevant issues and to attend our twice monthly webinars of particular relevance to the developing world.

Global AI Advocates Network (GAAN)  |  Coordinated by IAAD  |  www.iaadai-agent.org  |  To unsubscribe, reply with 'unsubscribe'