PRESS RELEASE

Lisbon, 5 May 2026 — At a time when artificial intelligence is advancing faster than society’s ability to fully understand its implications, the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) and Re-Imagine Europa (RIE) have officially launched the Global AI Impact Network (GAIN) yesterday in Lisbon.  

The initiative responds to a growing global reality: alongside the excitement around AI’s potential, there is also rising uncertainty and concern. Questions about the future of work, the role of humans in an AI-driven economy, and the increasing demand for energy and computing resources are becoming more urgent. 

GAIN is designed to address these concerns—not by slowing down innovation, but by helping shape its direction. At its core, the initiative seeks to ensure that AI is developed and deployed in a way that serves people, strengthens societies, and supports long-term resilience across relevant sectors such as Agri-Food, Cities, ICT, Manufacturing, Energy, Mobility, Public Service and DPI, Lifelong Learning or Media. 

The Network will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, experts, academia, and civil society to build a shared vision for AI—one that balances competitiveness with responsibility, innovation with trust, and global progress with human values. 

“We are at a turning point,” said Luís Neves, CEO of GeSI. “AI can either deepen inequalities and strain our resources, or it can help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through GAIN, our ambition is clear: to help set a direction where AI serves humanity—not the other way around.”  

The project will focus on translating complex debates into practical guidance and actionable direction, combining strategic foresight, narrative analysis, stakeholder engagement, and real-world use cases. It will explore how AI can be applied across key sectors to deliver tangible impact. A central output will be a strategic report on AI-powered solutions in Europe and beyond, supported by global consultations and expert contributions, with the ambition of helping Europe move from fragmented discussions to a more coherent and confident approach to AI. 

“Europe does not lack expertise or values—it lacks alignment,” said Erika Staël von Holstein, Chief Executive of Re-Imagine Europa. “GAIN is about creating that alignment. It is about connecting knowledge, experience, and perspectives to help societies navigate this transition with clarity and purpose.” 

Together, they will contribute to building a more holistic understanding of AI, not only as a technological shift, but as a transformation that affects how societies function, make decisions, and define progress.  

Beyond its analytical outputs, GAIN aims to create a global community of practice—a space where stakeholders can collaborate, share knowledge, and develop solutions that are both scalable and grounded in real-world needs. At a time when narratives around AI are often polarised between hype and fear, GAIN offers a different approach: one that is grounded, collaborative, and focused on ensuring that AI works for people, for society, and for the future we want to build. 

Maria João Rodrigues, Chair of Re-Imagine Europa’s Advisory Board added: ”In  an era  of geopolitical rivalries also using digital instruments, Europe should develop its own way  for digital transformation while at the same time strive for higher international cooperation. We need a global architecture enabling decentralised and tailor made ways but at the same time to work together to bring about a new model for sustainable growth and  a human digital civilisation”.

About Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI)  

GeSI is a global industry association founded in 2001 that mobilises digital innovation to drive sustainable and resilient growth. Headquartered in Brussels with offices in Washington DC, Shanghai, and Singapore, GeSI represents over 40 multinational companies with a combined market value exceeding USD 4 trillion, alongside more than 100 partner organisations, including UNFCCC, UNEP, the International Telecommunication Union, industry associations, research institutions, and civil society. Through evidence-based research, global frameworks, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, GeSI works across sectors to ensure digital technologies and AI are designed and deployed responsibly to deliver social, economic, and environmental impact. 

About Re-Imagine Europa
Re-Imagine Europa (RIE) is an independent, non-partisan think tank founded by President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing working to strengthen democracy, support evidence-based policy, and build shared narratives for Europe’s future. RIE provides the cognitive framework to address the challenges and uncertainties of the 21st century, acting as a high-level nexus between science, policy, industry and society. By bridging the gap between rigorous academic research and pragmatic policymaking, RIE ensures that the European project remains resilient, competitive, and human-centric in an age of unprecedented changes.