United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a strong warning against the militarisation of artificial intelligence, urging global cooperation to ensure AI development is guided by principles of equality, human rights, and inclusiveness. His remarks came during the 17th BRICS Summit, which concluded today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Addressing world leaders, Guterres underlined that AI is transforming economies and societies at an unprecedented pace. He called for collective wisdom and restraint to minimise potential risks while maximising the technology’s benefits for humanity.
He stressed that efforts to regulate AI must be rooted in multilateral cooperation that includes the active participation of developing countries. The Secretary-General referenced the Pact for the Future, which advocates the creation of an independent, UN-led international scientific advisory body on AI. This proposed body would provide impartial, evidence-based guidance to all Member States, aimed at ensuring AI development remains transparent and accessible.
Guterres also highlighted the need for a regular, inclusive global dialogue on AI under the auspices of the UN. He warned against the technology becoming the domain of a privileged few, stating that AI should be a tool that benefits all nations, with particular attention to the needs and interests of developing countries. The UN chief revealed that he will soon present a report detailing voluntary financing mechanisms to enhance AI capacity-building in developing countries.
UN Secretary-General urges global AI governance rooted in equality
He called on BRICS nations to support these initiatives, emphasising that without addressing deeper structural imbalances in the global system, efforts to govern AI effectively and equitably will fall short. Speaking on broader global governance challenges, Guterres stressed that existing international institutions, including the UN Security Council and the global financial system, were created for a different era and no longer reflect current geopolitical realities. He reiterated the call for Security Council reform and for transforming international financial structures to give developing countries a greater voice.
Guterres pointed to outcomes from the recent Financing for Development conference in Seville, which included proposals for more effective debt restructuring mechanisms and a significant increase in the lending capacity of multilateral development banks, with an emphasis on concessional finance and local currency lending. He concluded by underlining that bridging the digital divide is essential to harness AI as a driver of inclusive growth and sustainable development, particularly for nations in the Global South. He called for cooperation based on trust and respect for international law, describing it as humanity’s greatest innovation in facing global challenges. – By MENA Newswire News Desk.