Kavi Global pushes AI sovereignty agenda at UN Bangkok summit

Kavi Global helped lead a United Nations conference session in Bangkok focused on using AI to strengthen economic sovereignty across the Global South. The discussion centered on localized AI Centers of Excellence as a way for developing countries to build talent, infrastructure and homegrown digital economies.

Why it matters: - Kavi Global’s message at the UN conference centered on a bigger shift: helping developing countries move from buying AI tools to building their own. - The approach is aimed at economic sovereignty, local job creation and more control over national digital infrastructure. - The model is designed to help governments and institutions in the Global South do more with limited resources.

What happened: - Kavi Global was invited to facilitate discussions at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand, this year. - The session was hosted by the AI for Developing Countries Forum, or AIFOD. - The summit brought together representatives from more than 150 countries, including government officials, technology leaders and investors. - Naomi Kaduwela, head of Kavi Labs at Kavi Global, led a session on how AI can accelerate economic development, expand digital inclusion and drive innovation in emerging markets. - Kavi Global presented its framework for localized Artificial Intelligence Centers of Excellence, or AI CoEs.

The details: - The AI CoE model is meant to create high-value digital jobs and build national AI capability. - The framework is built around five barriers facing developing nations: capital, compute, context, competency and connectivity. - Kavi Global said AI CoEs are designed to address those barriers directly through government-backed funding, localized infrastructure and mentorship from global experts. - The model trains domestic talent, supports national AI initiatives and creates ecosystems that keep capability inside the country. - Kavi Global also presented its “5:500 Multiplier” model, which shows how a small group of skilled experts can extend their reach across hundreds of communities. - The company linked that model to healthcare, education, public services and workforce development. - The summit discussion said governments can use AI and analytics to improve emergency services, healthcare, transportation and digital government services. - The expected outcomes include better response coordination, broader access to public health insights, more efficient mobility networks and automated citizen services. - Kavi Global said through Kavi Labs it partners with enterprises and governments worldwide to launch AI Centers of Excellence in emerging regions, implement enterprise AI solutions and develop Digital Knowledge Workers®.

Between the lines: - The event reflected a broader push among developing countries to avoid becoming only consumers of foreign AI systems. - The framework also suggests that AI policy is increasingly being linked to industrial policy, talent development and public service delivery. - Kavi Global’s pitch positions localized infrastructure and domestic expertise as the foundation for long-term competitiveness, not just technology adoption. - Naomi Kaduwela said developing countries have a chance to leapfrog traditional technology adoption models and build AI ecosystems that are locally relevant, economically sustainable and globally competitive.

What's next: - The summit message pointed to continued efforts to scale AI CoEs with public-sector investment and global collaboration. - Kavi Global is likely to keep promoting the localized-capability model through Kavi Labs and its enterprise and government partnerships. - The broader outcome depends on whether more countries commit funding, infrastructure and talent development to build sovereign AI capacity.

The bottom line: - Kavi Global used the Bangkok UN summit to argue that AI sovereignty for developing nations starts with local talent, local infrastructure and local control of innovation. - More information about the Bangkok 2026 Summit is available here.