The outgoing UN secretary-general has renewed calls for stronger international oversight of artificial intelligence risks, urging countries to cooperate on safety standards and establish a multilateral framework for managing the technology.
Speaking during the 81st UN General Assembly, the UN chief called on countries developing advanced AI systems to share information on emerging risks, cooperate on testing and evaluation, and establish common safeguards.
He urged world leaders to promote the responsible development of AI and support additional measures to address potential risks, including credible and independent oversight.
The UN has previously taken steps towards developing international mechanisms for AI governance. In 2023, it established a 39-member advisory body comprising technology executives, government officials and academics from several countries.
The UN Security Council also held its first discussion on artificial intelligence and its potential security implications in 2023. The meeting highlighted concerns over the technology’s possible impact on international peace and security.
Meanwhile, discussions at the General Assembly also focused on ongoing conflicts and rising regional tensions.
Addressing the situation in the Middle East, the UN chief called for de-escalation and dialogue, urging an end to fighting, the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance and the restoration of navigational rights in accordance with international law.
He also highlighted growing pressure on the UN system, saying international institutions were facing difficulties in maintaining effective collective action and that existing structures did not fully reflect current global power dynamics.
The address marked the end of the UN chief’s decade-long tenure, during which he sought to strengthen the organisation’s role in conflict mediation, international cooperation and the governance of emerging technologies.
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to peace, the principles of the UN Charter and continued international cooperation after leaving office at the end of his term.
