The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has called for the development of a voluntary, risk-based framework to guide the safe, inclusive and interoperable use of artificial intelligence across the global postal sector. The proposal was presented during the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the AI for Good Global Summit, hosted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
As an established network connecting nearly every country, the UPU used the events to demonstrate how the postal sector is a fundamental enabler of trusted and inclusive digital public infrastructure and how it is translating AI governance principles in practice.During the event the UPU’s Director for Policy, Regulation and Markets, Siva Somasundram, highlighted the postal sector’s potential as a starting point for implementing practical governance frameworks.
Speaking as part of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance attended by heads of state, UN leaders, ministers and CEOs on 7 July, Somasundram reiterated AI governance risks underscored in the high-level panel’s report. Safeguards are not keeping pace with AI capabilities, platforms are not yet auditable, governance instruments remain fragmented, and multiple autonomous agents interacting across connected systems pose additional risks.
“For supply chains, these are not abstract concerns, where one operator's automated decision – a customs flag, a routing choice, a risk score – immediately affects others down the chain. What the report describes as systemic risk is, for us, an everyday operational reality,” Somasundram explained.
From principles to practical safeguards
He outlined two priorities for safe, secure and trustworthy AI in the sector. The first is interoperable governance approaches for the points where cross-border systems meet. The second is accountability and oversight built in by design, so that high-impact decisions, such as holding, clearing or treating shipments, remain under human control and can be traced. To this end, he said the UPU would bring together stakeholders to develop a voluntary, risk-weighted governance framework for the sector, translating shared UN principles into practical actions. This would include a common baseline and capacity-building support for member countries, so that governance does not become a barrier only the most advanced can clear.
“We offer the global postal network as a concrete demonstration that interoperability, accountability and oversight can be tested and achieved across borders and across very different levels of capacity,” added Somasundram.
Following the AI Dialogue, the UPU hosted a session on “Governing agentic AI in the supply chain: the role of the United Nations”. Somasundram joined Dr Vipin Kumar, Regents Professor of Computer Science at the University of Minnesota and Member of the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, and Golestan (Sally) Radwan, Chief Digital Officer, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The session explored how the UN might support in translating high-level AI governance principles into concrete, sector-specific measures protecting accountability, transparency, and human oversight, while maximizing AI’s socio-economic contribution.
Somasundram noted that AI is now used in areas such as customs pre-arrival processing, routing and network optimization, exception management and customer service, drawing on trusted cross-border data to make decisions about postal shipments. He described a sector-wide framework as a top priority to manage the cross-border implications of these tools and to ensure postal networks remain inclusive and secure for all customers. UPU leadership of this process ensures a global coordinated effort.
The UPU framework is expected to also provide baseline principles for the broader logistics sector, promoting interoperability.
Building a coalition
On 8 July, Somasundram represented the UPU at the AI for Good UN Leaders Roundtable Lunch. The meeting gave senior leaders of UN partner entities a chance to reflect on the Global Dialogue session and identify collaboration opportunities to act on its conclusions.
The postal sector offers a concrete operational environment in which AI governance principles can be translated into practical, real-world implementation. Somasundram said the UPU is seeking input from stakeholders, including member governments, international organizations, development partners and private sector entities.