UN Secretary-General Calls for Global Efforts to Establish AI Safeguards
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for coordinated global efforts to establish safeguards for artificial intelligence (AI).
“We need a shared understanding of how to advance safe, secure, and responsible AI development, while identifying when these increasingly sophisticated systems may require stricter safeguards or additional measures to manage potential risks,” Guterres stated during a press conference ahead of this year’s UN General Assembly High-Level Week.
“This demands genuine international cooperation and coordinated global efforts,” he added.
Guterres warned that the world must not allow competition to lower AI safety standards amidst geopolitical fragmentation.
“We need safeguards to build trust and to make AI safe, transparent, and accountable, placing human dignity at the centre. As the world faces three existential threats—uncontrolled AI, the climate crisis, and deepening inequalities to intolerable levels—international cooperation is more important than ever,” he said.
AI possesses immense potential to accelerate sustainable development, enhance learning, strengthen healthcare systems, improve climate resilience, and much more.
However, an increasing number of AI developers are beginning to issue warnings that the pace of technological development has outstripped our understanding of its associated risks.
“Some are calling for a temporary pause. Many are urging the need for the implementation of safeguards. We must not ignore the emerging concerns, especially from those at the forefront of AI development,” said Guterres.
Governments must uphold their responsibilities. Protecting citizens, including from the threats posed by AI, is a primary duty of every government. However, according to Guterres, global coordination is also essential given that AI knows no national borders, nor do the risks it poses.
Guterres warned that voluntary pauses that are unilateral, unverifiable, and unevenly applied would be unable to address the issue.
“If we believe that AI development must be slowed when the risks become too great, we need more than just good intentions,” Guterres concluded.