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