- UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that artificial intelligence is developing faster than global safeguards can keep pace, emphasizing the need for harmonised rules to mitigate risks, especially for children.
- The UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance opened with an urgent call for safe and inclusive AI that benefits all, bringing together governments, tech companies, and civil society.
- Guterres issued an urgent call for governance, stating that killer robots are already becoming the norm as AI technology shifts to the battlefield.
- Guterres emphasized that innovation needs guardrails and that AI must be governed to harness its potential responsibly.
- The two-day inaugural U.N. Global Dialogue aims to discuss rules to mitigate AI's potential harms and leverage its opportunities.
- Guterres called for a Child Safety Pledge to ensure AI systems are safe for children, requiring companies to conduct child-specific safety testing.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the inaugural Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, emphasizing the urgent need for international regulations as AI technology evolves rapidly. He stated, “A technology that can reshape economies... is being deployed faster than anyone can keep up.”3
The dialogue aims to establish rules to mitigate AI's risks while harnessing its potential benefits. Guterres highlighted the importance of protecting children from digital manipulation, calling for an AI Child Safety Pledge that mandates safety testing and oversight for AI systems accessible to minors.6
He noted that 99% of deepfakes are sexual in nature, with a significant percentage targeting women and girls, underscoring the need for collective action against AI's darker aspects.
The UN's initiative seeks to ensure that AI development aligns with human dignity and equity, with Guterres stating, “If AI is to be powerful, it must be governed.” He also called for transparency in AI companies' environmental impacts, noting that data centers could consume more electricity than most countries by 2030.
The dialogue includes participation from governments, tech companies, and civil society, aiming to create a shared vision for AI that benefits all, especially the 2.2 billion people still offline.
Guterres concluded, “When countries align on how to test systems, measure risk and assign responsibility, safety travels with the technology.”
“Guterres announced a child safety pledge requiring AI developers to prove safety and adopt zero tolerance for child sexual abuse material. He also noted that private AI infrastructure funding stands at $500 trillion while public support for developing countries remains a 'rounding error'.”
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UNESCO
