Security Council
Artificial intelligence (AI) - Security Council, 9821st meeting
Rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) is outpacing human ability to govern it, even threatening human control over weapons systems, the United Nations chief warned during a Security Council briefing, urging Member States to swiftly establish “international guard-rails” to ensure a safe, secure and inclusive AI future for all.
However, recent conflicts have become testing grounds for AI military applications, he pointed out, noting that algorithms, from intelligence-based assessments to target selection, have reportedly been used in making life-and-death decisions. “Artificial intelligence without human oversight would leave the world blind — and perhaps nowhere more perilously and recklessly than in global peace and security,” he warned, adding that “deep fakes” could trigger diplomatic crises, incite unrest and undermine the very foundations of societies. The integration of AI with nuclear weapons must be avoided at all costs, he emphasized.
Amid the pressing need for “unprecedented global cooperation” in reducing fragmentation of AI governance, his High-Level Advisory Body on AI has developed a blueprint for addressing both the profound risks and opportunities that AI presents to humanity, he noted, adding: It has also laid “the foundation for a framework that connects existing initiatives — and ensures that every nation can help shape our digital future”.
Member States should move swiftly in establishing the International Scientific Panel on AI and launching the Global Dialogue on AI Governance within the United Nations, as set forth in the UN Global Digital Compact. “We must never allow AI to stand for ‘Advancing Inequality’,” he added, underscoring the need to support developing countries in building AI capabilities. “Members of this Council must lead by example and ensure that competition over emerging technologies does not destabilize international peace and security,” he urged.
Presidency: His Excellency Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State, United States of America
Briefer: His Excellency António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Briefer: Mr. Yann LeCun, Chief AI Scientist, Meta and Jacob T. Schwartz Professor of Computer Science, Data Science, Neural Science, and Electrical and Computer Engineering, New York University
Briefer: Ms. Fei-Fei Li, Sequoia Professor, Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Co-Director, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and member, Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board (via video-teleconference)
Statement: His Excellency Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State, United States of America
Statement: Her Excellency Gabriela Sommerfeld, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Ecuador
Statement: Her Excellency Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mozambique
Statement: His Excellency Thomas Gürber, State Secretary, Switzerland
Statements: Malta, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, France, Guyana, China, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Japan