Ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, Secretary-General António Guterres is calling for urgent global coordination and a multilateral mechanism to address the existential risks of artificial intelligence. Guterres warns that AI development is outpacing safety regulations, though US President Donald Trump has dismissed these concerns as a hoax. Concurrently, Guterres highlights how geopolitical divides and Security Council paralysis undermine international law, while US funding shortfalls strain UN operations.
Global AI coordination call
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres advocated for the creation of a multilateral mechanism to prevent risks associated with artificial intelligence.
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres proposed that countries with advanced artificial intelligence development capabilities should exchange information, establish transparency mechanisms, and implement safety guardrails.
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that while national action on artificial intelligence is essential, global coordination is indispensable because artificial intelligence risks do not stop at national borders.
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for coordinated international action and safeguards to address artificial intelligence risks, describing artificial intelligence as a "universal problem."
AI safety risks
- ▪United States President Donald Trump dismissed warnings regarding artificial intelligence risks as a "hoax" and opposed calls for tighter oversight of the technology.
- ▪Concerns regarding artificial intelligence safety escalated as employees at major artificial intelligence development companies resigned over the dangers posed by the technology.
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that artificial intelligence development is racing ahead of the understanding of its risks, stating that the world cannot afford a race to the bottom on safety.
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres noted that artificial intelligence has significant potential to accelerate sustainable development, enhance learning, strengthen health systems, and boost climate resilience.
Security Council paralysis
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres cited the Russian invasion of Ukraine and United States attacks on Iran as examples of veto-wielding Security Council members violating international law.
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that a "huge geopolitical divide" and paralysis within the United Nations Security Council have created an environment of impunity where powerful countries flout international law.
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that geopolitical divides have left the United Nations with "no leverage" to promote peace in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Geopolitical divisions
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the combination of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the broader Middle East conflict is causing rising food and energy prices, increasing interest rates, and economic difficulties for developing nations.
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced plans to raise peace in Ukraine and the Middle East during his scheduled meeting with United States President Donald Trump on September 22, 2026.
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas in southern Israel, as well as the subsequent high levels of death and destruction caused by Israel in Gaza.
UN institutional reform
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who is preparing to leave office at the end of 2026 after nearly a decade, identified runaway artificial intelligence, climate change, and escalating inequality as three existential global problems.
- ▪The United Nations faced severe financial issues due to the failure of the United States to pay billions of dollars to the regular operating budget and peacekeeping operations.
- ▪United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for overhauling World War II-era institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, to reflect 21st-century realities.
Debatable claims
- ▪The United Nations Security Council should be reformed to reflect modern geopolitical realities
- ▪Fears of catastrophic AI safety risks are exaggerated
- ▪The international community should establish a multilateral mechanism to regulate artificial intelligence
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