New York – UN Secretary-General António Guterres has cautioned that artificial intelligence, while offering significant benefits, poses serious risks if left unregulated. His remarks were delivered on Wednesday at the Security Council during a high-level debate on AI’s implications for international peace and security in New York.
Guterres said AI is already transforming daily life, global information flows, and the economy at an unprecedented pace. He noted that the critical question is not whether AI will influence global security, but how that influence will be managed.
He acknowledged that AI can be used responsibly to predict food insecurity, assist in de-mining operations, and detect outbreaks of violence before they escalate. However, he warned that the technology can also be weaponised, citing examples of AI-driven targeting in conflicts, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, and deepfakes that polarise societies or disrupt diplomatic efforts.
The Secretary-General outlined four priorities for governments: keeping human control over the use of force, establishing coherent global regulations, safeguarding information integrity, and addressing the “AI capacity gap between rich and poor nations.”
Guterres also noted initiatives underway, including the creation of an independent scientific panel on AI and a new global dialogue on AI governance scheduled in New York on Thursday. He said these efforts aim to bring together science, policy, and practical implementation, ensuring that all countries have a voice and reducing fragmentation in global AI oversight.
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