As the world’s first intergovernmental policy guidelines for AI, developed by more than 50 international and multidisciplinary experts, and already adopted by more than 40 countries, the OECD principles in fact represent a new core, or “global reference point,” of AI governance... The first reason to pay attention to the OECD AI principles is that they have managed to unite nations across regional boundaries at a time of relative aversion to international agreements. Most notably, the principles have been endorsed by the United States... A second reason to pay attention to the OECD AI principles is that they reinforce the importance of values in shaping the development of AI trajectories globally...The principles.. are“values-based principles,” and are explicitly intended to promote AI “that is innovative and trustworthy and that respects human rights and democratic values.”...A final reason to pay attention to the OECD AI principles is that they are surprisingly comprehensive... Following the release of this recommendation, the OECD is establishing an AI Policy Observatory, which will help implement and monitor the principles around the world...Even if only a few of the most powerful countries in the OECD were to uphold these principles with nation-state policies, they may have enough influence on the multinational corporations leading the development of AI to set an effective ethical and safe standard around the world.