UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on world leaders to uphold international law, protect human rights and strengthen global cooperation ahead of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday (16 Sep), Guterres addressed the growing international debate over how to manage the risks and opportunities associated with artificial intelligence (AI). He said AI had significant potential to support development, healthcare, education and climate resilience, but warned that concerns raised by those building the technology “cannot be ignored”.
In recent weeks, technology leaders, researchers and governments have debated the pace of AI development and the safeguards needed to address potential risks. Figures including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have called for stronger safeguards, while Elon Musk has also supported greater attention on AI safety.
US President Donald Trump has rejected calls to slow AI development, arguing that maintaining technological leadership is essential in competition with China, while Beijing has criticised calls for a slowdown as counterproductive and urged cooperation on global AI governance.
“The world cannot afford a race to the bottom on AI safety,” Guterres said, calling for guard rails to ensure AI is “safe, transparent, accountable” and centred on human dignity.
The UN chief added that national action was necessary but insufficient, arguing that AI’s cross-border impact required international coordination alongside efforts to address climate change, inequality and global security challenges.
ℹ️ UN Web TV
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