The Three Dimensions of Global AI Governance: International Legal Rules, Ethical Controversies, and Social Acceptance

Abstract

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping global power structures, economic systems, and social norms—yet its governance remains fragmented across legal, ethical, and societal domains. This review paper advances a triadic analytical framework to map the evolving landscape of global AI governance: first, the formal architecture of international legal rules, including treaties, soft law instruments, and intergovernmental coordination mechanisms; second, the contested terrain of ethical controversies, where divergent philosophical foundations, cultural values, and normative priorities generate persistent disagreement on principles such as fairness, autonomy, and moral agency; third, the often-overlooked dimension of social acceptance, which reflects how public trust, media narratives, educational exposure, and lived experience condition the legitimacy and durability of governance efforts. By examining these three dimensions not as parallel tracks but as dynamically interacting layers, the paper reveals critical tensions, such as the gap between binding legal capacity and ethical ambition, or the disjunction between elite consensus and grassroots perception—and identifies structural prerequisites for coherent, adaptive, and inclusive global governance. The analysis underscores that sustainable AI governance cannot be engineered solely through top-down regulation or abstract principle-setting; it must be continuously co-produced across legal institutions, ethical deliberation forums, and diverse public spheres.