How do we tackle one of the most critical challenges of our time–ensuring AI is governed in alignment with the rule of law? As AI deployment accelerates, so does the urgency of enforceable governance. Robust accountability mechanisms are needed to ensure AI governance can actually work. How do we do this? 

It begins with dialogue between diverse stakeholders. For our Sixth Edition of the Athens Roundtable on AI and the Rule of Law on December 9, 2024, we brought together 135 in-person leaders from government, civil society, academia, and the tech industry and 830 online participants from 108 countries to figure out a way forward towards greater accountability. This year’s roundtable welcomed leadership from the OECD, United Nations, UNESCO, the European AI Office, and the Network of AI Safety Institutes.

Prominent policymakers and thought leaders in attendance included the Hellenic Digital Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, Ambassador of Rwanda to France François Nkulikiyimfura, Tanzania Member of Parliament Neema Lugangira, Members of the European Parliament Axel Voss and Brando Benifei, Special Envoy of the French President to the AI Action Summit Anne Bouverot, European AI Office Director Lucilla Sioli, U.S. AISI Director Elizabeth Kelly, UN AI Advisory Board Co-Chair Carme Artigas, Anthropic Co-Founder and Head of Policy Jack Clark, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights President and CEO Maya Wiley, and UC Berkeley Professor Stuart Russell, among the many esteemed participants.

Our report International Coordination for Accountability in AI Governance highlights key takeaways from the Roundtable, which was held at the OECD Headquarters in Paris. It captures ideas, recommendations, and quotes from the day of thoughtful discussions, which covered assessing progress in AI regulation, identifying gaps, crafting solutions, and setting priorities for the AI Action Summit in February 2025.

One key takeaway: Building effective AI governance is an ongoing endeavor—one that demands international coordination, with legal, policy, and normative clarity and decisive action now.

Recommendations for Key Stakeholders

Building on discussions during The Athens Roundtable, our report presents 15 strategic recommendations for strengthening international coordination and accountability in AI governance. Read the full report for more context.

Governments

• Harmonize international AI standards through multilateral agreements, securing high-level political commitment to shared governance principles.
• Move from voluntary industry pledges to binding legal frameworks, with clear mandates for oversight and safety assessments.
• Require rigorous independent evaluations and third-party audits to verify AI compliance with regulatory benchmarks.

Intergovernmental Organizations

• Establish globally recognized standards through coordinated efforts with AI Safety Institutes and regulatory bodies.
• Develop binding international frameworks that enforce compliance across jurisdictions and prevent regulatory fragmentation.
• Institutionalize joint oversight mechanisms, such as an international incident reporting system, to manage cross-border AI risks effectively.

Industry

• Enhance transparency through standardized reporting on risk assessments, safety measures, and compliance with ethical AI principles.
• Implement lifecycle accountability, ensuring AI models are monitored for unintended consequences post-deployment.
• Align development with responsible AI commitments, integrating ethical guardrails and robust safety mechanisms.

Civil Society

• Advocate for inclusive AI governance, ensuring underrepresented voices are included in global discussions and policy decisions.
• Monitor AI impacts through independent research and accountability frameworks to track corporate and governmental adherence to ethical AI standards.
• Push for adaptive global benchmarks that continuously assess AI risks and societal implications.

Individuals

• Support ethical AI development through informed choices, including ethical consumer behavior and advocacy for responsible AI use.
• Demand greater transparency and governance accountability from AI developers and regulators.
• Participate in public consultations to influence AI policies and oversight mechanisms.

Looking Ahead

As the global AI landscape evolves, the key takeaways from the Sixth Edition of the Athens Roundtable can help shape governance priorities in 2025 and beyond. With discussions centered on strengthening accountability in AI governance, the event underscored the necessity of international coordination and enforceable oversight mechanisms.

The upcoming AI Action Summit in Paris can build on these insights, aiming to advance concrete steps toward a globally coordinated accountability framework. Next steps should include formalizing commitments into binding agreements, enhancing AI oversight institutions, and ensuring governance mechanisms reflect a diverse array of stakeholder perspectives.

The conversation on AI accountability does not end here. To maintain momentum, stakeholders must push for the integration of robust accountability measures throughout the AI lifecycle. The Sixth Edition reaffirmed that AI governance is a continuous process—one that demands sustained collaboration, institutional innovation, and decisive leadership to navigate the complex challenges ahead.