United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a grave warning to the UN Security Council, asserting that artificial intelligence must not be allowed to determine the fate of humanity. Addressing a high-level debate on AI's security implications, Guterres stressed the urgent need for global guardrails to govern the rapidly advancing technology, particularly its potential weaponisation.
Key Takeaways
Human control over the use of force must be maintained.
Global regulatory frameworks for AI are essential.
Protecting information integrity from AI manipulation is crucial.
Addressing the AI capacity gap between nations is vital.
AI's Dual Nature: Promise and Peril
Secretary-General Guterres acknowledged AI's transformative potential, highlighting its capacity to aid in areas such as predicting food insecurity, supporting de-mining operations, and identifying potential outbreaks of violence. However, he cautioned that without robust safeguards, AI can be weaponised, citing its use in targeting systems in recent conflicts, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, and the proliferation of deepfakes that can fuel polarisation and derail diplomacy.
"Humanity's fate cannot be left to an algorithm," Guterres declared, emphasizing that decisions, especially concerning nuclear weapons, must remain firmly in human hands. He called for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons systems operating without human control, aiming for a legally binding instrument by the following year.
The Urgency for Global Governance
Guterres warned that the window for effective AI regulation is rapidly closing. He pointed to the need for coherent global regulatory frameworks and stressed that geopolitical competition over emerging technologies should not destabilise international peace and security. The Secretary-General also highlighted the risks associated with AI's integration into military systems and its potential misuse in the information domain, which can erode trust and manipulate public opinion.
Bridging the AI Divide
Experts like Professor Yejin Choi from Stanford University's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence echoed these concerns, noting that AI development is concentrated among a few companies and countries. She urged for broader access and investment in alternative AI approaches, advocating for smaller, more adaptive systems to lower entry barriers. Professor Choi also stressed the importance of linguistic and cultural diversity in AI models, as current leading systems often underperform for non-English languages and reflect narrow cultural assumptions.
A Call to Action
In his closing remarks, Guterres urged the Security Council to lead by example in preventing the militarisation of AI in destabilising ways. He called for unprecedented global cooperation to ensure AI benefits everyone and does not exacerbate inequality, reiterating that "the window is closing to shape AI – for peace, for justice, for humanity. We must act without delay."