SaMedia, Dec. 19 – The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) poses significant risks to global peace and security and necessitates immediate international cooperation to establish safeguards, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the Security Council on Tuesday. Guterres stressed that the pace of AI advancement is “outpacing our ability to govern it,” raising critical questions about accountability, safety and security, and humanity’s role in decision-making.
The secretary-general highlighted both the potential benefits and alarming risks of AI, noting that AI tools can identify food insecurity, predict displacements, detect landmines, and potentially anticipate unrest before violence erupts. However, the weaponization and military use of AI is already being observed in conflicts, raising concerns about human rights violations and the erosion of human control over the use of force. The integration of AI with nuclear weapons is particularly concerning.
Guterres also pointed out that AI can create realistic content that can manipulate public opinion, spread disinformation, and undermine societal foundations. Additionally, the energy and water consumption of AI data centers, along with the demand for critical minerals, creates competition for resources and geopolitical tensions.
Guterres called for swift action to establish international guardrails, emphasizing that “every moment of delay increases the risk for us all.” He urged member states to establish an international scientific panel on AI, launch a global dialogue on AI governance within the United Nations, and ban lethal autonomous weapons, as well as establish new prohibitions and restrictions on autonomous weapons systems by 2026.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who chaired the Security Council meeting, echoed Guterres’s concerns and emphasized the need for international collaboration to address the challenges and opportunities of AI. Blinken highlighted U.S. initiatives to promote responsible AI development, including securing commitments from American companies to enhance AI safety and collaborating with international partners to establish guidelines for AI governance.
Blinken stressed the importance of setting “rules of the road for AI” to mitigate risks and harness its potential for positive advancements. He called on the international community to stand together against irresponsible AI use and to build secure and trustworthy AI systems that benefit all.
