By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN chief Antonio Guterres on Thursday urged the Security Council to act decisively to establish international guardrails for artificial intelligence, warned that delays could heighten risks to global peace and security.
Guterres was addressing the UN Security Council members and ministers warned that rapid developments in AI are outpacing humanity’s ability to govern it, raising important questions about accountability, equality, safety and human oversight in decision-making.
“Every moment of delay in establishing international guardrails increases the risk for us all,” Mr. Guterres said.
He said “No country should design, develop, deploy or use military applications of AI in armed conflict that violate international humanitarian and human rights laws. That includes relying on AI to select or engage targets autonomously.”
Guterres underscored that geopolitical competition over emerging technologies must not destabilize international peace and security.
He highlighted the dual-edged nature of AI, noting its potential to predict displacements caused by climate change or detect landmines. However, its integration into military systems and its misuse in digital security poses great risks.
“Recent conflicts have become testing grounds for AI military applications,” he said.
He cited AI use in autonomous surveillance, predictive policing and even reported life-and-death decisions.
Guterres underscored the potential integration of AI with nuclear weapons and the advent of quantum-AI systems that could destabilize global security.
“The fate of humanity must never be left to the ‘black box’ of an algorithm,” he stated, stressed the importance of human control over decisions involving the use of force.
Mr. Guterres said the role of AI in the information domain is another area of concern, as he pointed to how deepfakes and AI-generated disinformation can manipulate public opinion, trigger crises and erode trust in societies.
He brought attention to the environmental risks of AI, highlighted the resource-intensive nature of data centres and geopolitical competition over critical minerals needed for AI technology.
“Unprecedented global challenges call for unprecedented global cooperation,” he said.
He called for collaborative efforts to ensure AI benefit everyone and does not exacerbate inequality.
Mr. Guterres outlined recent steps toward establishing global governance for AI, including the adoption of the UN Global Digital Compact at the Summit of the Future, and two key resolutions at the General Assembly on enhancing global cooperation and capacity-building.
He noted that a third resolution focused on AI in the military domain is due to be considered by the General Assembly in the coming days.
Guterres reiterated his call for banning lethal autonomous weapons.
He urged the Security Council to lead by example in preventing the militarisation of AI in ways that destabilize international peace and security.
“I urge you all to join forces to build a safe, secure and inclusive AI future,” he concluded.
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