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During a recent address to ministers and ambassadors, António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, expressed urgent concerns regarding the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasized that the pace of these developments is swiftly surpassing humanity’s current capacity to regulate them effectively, raising critical questions surrounding accountability, equity, safety, and the necessity for human oversight in AI-driven decision-making.
“Every moment of delay in establishing international guardrails increases the risk for us all,” Mr. Guterres stated.
He stressed the importance for countries to refrain from designing or implementing military AI applications that violate international humanitarian and human rights laws, particularly those involving autonomous selection or engagement of targets in armed conflicts.
Furthermore, he warned that geopolitical rivalries over emerging technologies could potentially threaten global peace and security.
A Double-Edged Sword
In his remarks, Mr. Guterres illustrated the paradoxical nature of AI. On one hand, it holds promise for applications such as predicting migration patterns due to climate change and detecting landmines. On the other hand, its incorporation into military systems and its misuse for digital security raise significant concerns.
“Recent conflicts have become testing grounds for AI military applications,” he noted, referencing the deployment of AI in contexts such as autonomous surveillance, predictive policing, and making critical decisions that could impact lives. He highlighted the particularly troubling prospect of integrating AI with nuclear arsenals and the implications of quantum-AI systems that might destabilize global safety.
“The fate of humanity must never be left to the ‘black box’ of an algorithm,” he insisted, underscoring the necessity for human oversight in matters that involve the potential use of force.
Erosion of Trust
The influence of AI on information dissemination was another point of concern raised by Mr. Guterres. He pointed out how technologies like deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation can distort public perceptions, escalate crises, and undermine social trust.
Additionally, he shed light on the environmental impact of AI technologies, specifically the substantial resources required to operate data centers and the international competition over vital minerals essential for AI development.
“Unprecedented global challenges call for unprecedented global cooperation,” he declared, advocating for efforts that would allow AI advancements to benefit everyone and avoid deepening existing inequalities.
Call for a Global Framework
Mr. Guterres outlined several recent initiatives aimed at fostering global governance frameworks for AI, including the UN Global Digital Compact established at the Summit of the Future and two significant resolutions passed at the General Assembly focused on enhancing global collaboration and building capacity.
A third resolution, concentrating on the military applications of AI, is anticipated to be reviewed by the General Assembly shortly.
Concluding his address, Mr. Guterres reiterated the necessity for a ban on lethal autonomous weapons, urging the Security Council to take a leadership role in preventing the militarization of AI in ways that could jeopardize international peace. He called upon all member states to cooperate in crafting a safe, secure, and inclusive AI future.
With these issues at the forefront of global discourse, the role of AI will undeniably be a pivotal topic for future international discussions, as its implications continue to unfold.
Source
news.un.org