Special Representative on Artificial Intelligence Federica Onori meets with Bakyt Dzhusupov, Co-ordinator of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, in Vienna, 27 January 2026VIENNA, 27 January 2026 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on Artificial Intelligence, Federica Onori (Italy), has concluded a two-day visit to Vienna, engaging with OSCE institutions, the Swiss Chairpersonship, and Austrian experts to examine the implications of artificial intelligence for security, human rights, and democratic governance.
The visit focused on mapping AI-related activities across the OSCE ecosystem, identifying opportunities to strengthen synergies between the Organization’s parliamentary and executive dimensions, and avoiding duplication of efforts. Discussions underscored the importance of sustained dialogue among parliaments, institutions, academia, and the private sector, with the Special Representative highlighting the OSCE PA’s potential role as a bridge for practical co-operation and knowledge exchange on AI governance.
“As a cross-dimensional issue affecting security, economic and environmental activities, and human dimension commitments, it is essential that we address both the opportunities and challenges of AI in a comprehensive and co-operative manner,” Special Representative Onori said.
During the visit, Onori held meetings with the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Co-ordinator of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, the Conflict Prevention Centre, the External Co-operation Section, the Transnational Threats Department, and the Action against Terrorism Unit, among others.
She also met with Austrian experts from the private sector and the scientific community working in the field of artificial intelligence, and visited one of Austria’s leading AI research centres at the Vienna University of Economics and Business.
Discussions with institutional and academic interlocutors focused on key challenges such as generative AI-driven disinformation, algorithmic amplification, and capacity gaps among participating States, as well as practical ways to strengthen evidence-based parliamentary decision-making through closer engagement between researchers, policymakers, and private sector actors.
Among the avenues for future collaboration discussed were joint events and exchanges on the impact of emerging technologies on security, as well as on de-escalation in cyberspace – including the role of AI in preventive diplomacy, mediation, consultation mechanisms, and responsible private-sector engagement.
“AI can act as a risk multiplier in conflict contexts, but under proper governance it can also serve as a tool for confidence-building and early warning,” Onori said. “As OSCE PA Special Representative on Artificial Intelligence, I look forward to maintaining close engagement with all relevant stakeholders and to exploring how the OSCE’s executive expertise can be effectively translated into parliamentary awareness, oversight, and action across the OSCE region.”
For more information on the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s initiatives on artificial intelligence, please click here.
