The Swiss OSCE Chairpersonship opened today in Geneva a high-level conference on Anticipating technologies - for a safe and humane future. The two-day event brings together around 200 participants from across the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation, as well as representatives from international organizations, academia, the private sector and civil society.
Rapid advances in fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies are transforming the foundations of security and international governance. While these developments offer significant opportunities, they also carry risks that may exacerbate existing tensions. The conference aims to explore how anticipatory approaches, dialogue and co-operation can help build trust, reduce misunderstandings and strengthen security across the OSCE region, in a rapidly evolving technological environment.
Opening the conference, OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis stressed: "Technology will not wait for us. Geopolitics will not slow down. If we want to remain relevant, we must anticipate - not react. This is the responsibility we share across the OSCE region. The OSCE still offers something rare: a space where adversaries can speak, where differences can be managed, and where common ground can still be built."
OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu underlined the Organization's role in fostering co-operation to address the security implications of emerging technologies. "Today, emerging technologies are evolving faster than the frameworks that govern them. This creates a widening gap between what technology can do and how we manage it. This gap must be addressed through dialogue - our most important stabilizing force in uncertain times - and this is where the OSCE has a vital role to play." The Secretary General also highlighted the work already undertaken by the OSCE in support of participating States in addressing the challenges and risks arising from emerging technologies.
The conference reflects Switzerland's priority during its 2026 Chairpersonship to connect scientific and technological anticipation with policy action, building on international efforts to recognize the links between technological developments and peace and security.
Discussions focused on anticipating technological change and its geopolitical impact, addressing water and energy security in the digital age, and examining the role of artificial intelligence in early warning and conflict prevention.
Held in international Geneva, a global hub where science and diplomacy intersect, the conference also highlights the role of institutions such as CERN, Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) and the Open Quantum Institute (OQI) in bridging innovation and international co-operation.
The conference will continue on 8 May with further discussions aimed at sharing practical approaches and lessons learned from the field and identifying concrete pathways to enhance trust, mitigate risks and strengthen security across the OSCE region. The event is the second of four international conferences that Switzerland is hosting as part of its 2026 OSCE Chairpersonship, culminating in the Ministerial Council meeting in Lugano in December.
Link to the Chairman-in-Office's speech: https://www.dfae.admin.ch/en/newnsb/YZXqU4Ivq65quGzhAG7Fc
Link to the Secretary General's speech: https://www.osce.org/secretary-general/663928
