UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for coordinated international efforts to ensure artificial intelligence is developed safely and responsibly, warning that the technology is advancing faster than the understanding of its potential risks.
In a post on X, Guterres said AI could deliver significant benefits but stressed that warnings from those working on increasingly powerful systems should not be overlooked.
“AI has enormous potential, but a growing number of those building it are warning that development is racing ahead of our understanding of the risks. We can’t afford to ignore their concerns,” he said, calling for AI to be made “safe, transparent, accountable, with human dignity at the centre.”
Addressing a press conference at the beginning of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Guterres highlighted AI’s potential to advance sustainable development, education, healthcare and climate resilience. At the same time, he said governments must take emerging risks seriously.
“Some call for a pause. Many call for guardrails. We cannot afford to ignore concerns that have been raised, especially by those on the frontlines of the development of AI,” he said.
Guterres said governments must protect citizens from AI-related threats but added that national action alone would not address a technology that operates across borders.
“National action is essential. But global coordination is also indispensable,” he said.
His comments come amid a growing industry debate over the pace of AI development and the need for additional safeguards. The debate gained momentum after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called for a slower pace of development, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Google’s Demis Hassabis subsequently expressing support for stronger safety measures.
The UN chief said scientific evidence should guide international AI policy and pointed to the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI as a mechanism for bringing global expertise into the process.
“We need a shared understanding of how to advance the safe, secure, and responsible development of AI, while identifying when increasingly powerful systems may require stronger safeguards or additional measures to manage potential risks,” he said.
Guterres said AI would remain an important issue in his discussions with world leaders, placing its governance within the wider need for international cooperation to address global challenges.
