United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned world leaders that the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence poses risks that cannot be ignored, calling for greater oversight of the technology.
Speaking to reporters ahead of next week’s UN General Assembly in New York, Guterres said closer oversight of AI would be a key issue in his discussions with world leaders.
“We cannot ignore the concerns being expressed, particularly when they come from those on the front line of AI development,” Guterres said.
He added that it was the primary responsibility of every government to protect its citizens, including from potential threats posed by AI.
Debate intensifies over AI safeguards
Public concern over the potential risks of AI has grown in recent days following comments by Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who said he had resigned partly because, in his view, some people developing AI systems genuinely believed the technology could pose an existential threat within the decade.
The comments have added to an increasingly prominent debate within the technology sector over the pace of AI development.
The heads of several major companies in the industry called over the weekend for the pace of technological development to be slowed.
US President Donald Trump, however, said on Monday that the United States already had regulatory measures in place for the sector, playing down concerns expressed by members of the public as well as some industry figures.
Trump has also argued that restrictions or reservations surrounding AI development could benefit China.
Guterres pushes for global AI governance
Guterres has for several years called for international cooperation on the governance of artificial intelligence.
In 2023, the United Nations established a 39-member advisory body on AI. Its members include technology executives, government officials and academics from countries including the United States, Russia and Japan.
The UN Security Council held its first meeting focused on artificial intelligence in 2023 and could return to the issue next week during the General Assembly.
Guterres has argued that AI governance requires international cooperation, as the technology and its potential effects extend beyond national borders.
His latest comments come as governments and technology companies continue to debate how existing safeguards should evolve alongside increasingly capable AI systems.
Source: CNA
