UN Issues Stern Warning, World in Great Danger

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly being felt across various sectors. While the technology can bring economic benefits by boosting productivity and efficiency, there is a high price to pay. Workers are haunted by the fear of their roles being replaced by AI, with waves of layoffs increasingly linked to AI adoption. Cyberattacks and online fraud are also becoming more rampant, facilitated by AI technology, alongside the spread of disinformation and deepfakes that damage the digital space and create societal polarisation. Another significant impact is environmental damage. The data centre infrastructure required to run AI demands enormous amounts of electricity and water, while the land and construction involved often encroach upon green spaces. The UN has reacted by urging major AI companies to increase transparency regarding the environmental impact of data centre construction and the use of renewable energy. Secretary-General António Guterres stated that by 2030, AI could use more energy than all but five countries and consume enough water to meet the basic needs of the entire 1.3 billion population of sub-Saharan Africa for a year. He called on AI companies to measure and publicly disclose their water, carbon, and land impacts, and to commit to implementing renewable energy in all data centres by 2030. Guterres also launched a call to action on methane emissions, urging fossil fuel companies to fix leaks, end routine flaring, and adopt global science-based standards, noting that methane is responsible for about a third of current global warming. He announced plans to convene world leaders in September ahead of COP31 in Turkey to drive a just transition away from fossil fuels.