What the study found
The study found an emerging cross-textual consensus in global AI governance discourse around three core principles: Safety, Human-centric, and Fairness. It also found tensions between state and non-state actors, and between agreement in language and practical implementation.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that viewing governance texts as dynamic semiotic systems helps move beyond a hard law–soft law divide. The study suggests this perspective can support more inclusive and operational governance models.
What the researchers tested
The researchers used a sociosemiotic perspective to examine how normative consensus and legitimacy are constructed in global AI governance discourse. They analyzed a corpus of 47 international normative documents and looked at how the three principles were semiotically encoded.
What worked and what didn't
The findings indicate that “Safety” is often framed through securitisation discourse, while “Human-centric” is increasingly grounded in international human rights frameworks. The study also shows that nominalisation can help create surface-level consensus, but it introduces ambiguity that weakens enforceability.
What to keep in mind
The abstract describes the analysis as focused on global AI governance discourse and 47 international normative documents. It does not provide detailed limitations beyond noting tensions, ambiguity, and contested meaning.
Key points
- The study identifies an emerging consensus around Safety, Human-centric, and Fairness in global AI governance discourse.
- It finds tensions between state and non-state actors, and between agreement in language and real-world implementation.
- “Safety” is often framed through securitisation discourse, and “Human-centric” through international human rights frameworks.
- Nominalisation helps create surface-level consensus but can make enforcement less clear.
- The authors argue that viewing governance texts as dynamic semiotic systems can support more inclusive and operational models.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Global AI governance centers on safety, human-centricity, and fairness
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-06
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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