António Guterres urges global regulation for the development of artificial intelligence
The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, has issued a stark warning during the opening of the General Assembly: the accelerated advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) requires immediate and coordinated oversight measures at an international level. According to the organization’s top representative, the deployment of this technology must prioritize human well-being and be structured under solid ethical principles.
Artificial intelligence should be shaped by humanity, with humanity and for all of humanity.
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
Guterres emphasized that the decisions made today regarding the use and governance of AI will determine the course of society for decades to come. While acknowledging that the technology possesses positive transformative potential—capable of revolutionizing medicine, accelerating scientific research, and improving the quality of life for millions—he stressed that the lack of adequate control mechanisms represents a latent danger.
Ethical challenges and the danger of autonomous systems
One of the critical points of the speech was the concern regarding the lack of transparency and the excessive concentration of technological power in the hands of a few actors. The secretary general was especially emphatic when addressing the military sphere, where the development of autonomous systems poses unprecedented risks.
- Ban on autonomous weapons: Guterres categorically rejected that machines should have the power to decide on the life or death of human beings, stating that lethal autonomous systems should have no place in the future.
- Accountability: It is imperative to establish frameworks that prevent algorithmic decision-making without direct human supervision.
- Global responsibility: Nations with greater technological capacity must take a leading role in creating standards that ensure equitable and safe development.
To address these challenges, the diplomat proposed the creation of an independent and credible multilateral framework, designed to evaluate the risks and benefits of AI. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the technology remains under human control and that its advantages are not limited to a few sectors or countries, preventing geopolitics from blocking the cooperation necessary for global collective well-being.
The UN’s call comes at a crucial moment, where the debate over privacy, human rights, and digital security is intensifying, reinforcing the need for governance that ensures technological innovation is always an ally of human progress.
