UN Chief Urges Global AI Controls Amid Rising Concerns Over Autonomous Weapons

UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls for comprehensive, global controls on Artificial Intelligence (AI) during the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva. He emphasizes the urgent need to regulate increasingly powerful AI chips that are transitioning from civilian use to military applications, where 'killer robots' are already prevalent.

Addressing the Inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance

Guterres appeals for a future agreement that prioritizes safety, especially for children, and ensures accessibility for billions of people who currently lack access to this revolutionary technology. He stresses that any governance framework must be 'worthy of global trust' and protect against digitally-generated manipulation and abuse.

The President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, supports Guterres's call, highlighting the sinister side of AI. She notes that 99% of deepfakes are sexual in nature, with 96% targeting women and girls. Baerbock urges collective action to counter these threats.

Priorities for Global AI Regulation

Guterres outlines key priorities for global checks and balances on AI, including ensuring developing countries have locked-in access to self-learning tech. He also calls for all AI data centers to be powered by renewable energy by 2030. 'Machines can inform, but humans must decide, and answer,' he asserts, emphasizing the need for human oversight in AI decision-making.

The UN has been leading international efforts to shape controls on AI since 2017, when Guterres first highlighted the technology's potential and risks at the General Assembly. The three years since AI went mainstream have seen both positive and negative impacts across economies and societies.

Expert Perspectives on AI's Future

Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, insists on the need for a global, inclusive, and evidence-based conversation. Yoshua Bengio, co-chair of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, warns that AI models are capable of deceiving humans and could change power dynamics in ways not yet fully understood.

The timeline of AI regulation includes early calls for controls in 2017, the formation of a High-Level Advisory Body on AI in 2023, and the development of the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact in 2024. In June 2026, the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence warned of the potential for catastrophic harm from AI.

References

• From AI to ‘killer robots’: UN chief issues urgent governance call | UN News