United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a new agency to tackle artificial intelligence as the Security Council discussed AI's benefits and risks.
The meeting was the first discussion on artificial intelligence and the technology's associated risks. Several international leaders highlighted AI's dangerous potential if it falls into the wrong hands.
UN Secretary-General Calls for Agency To Tackle AI
Guterres added that various factors, such as the malicious use of AI systems for terrorists, criminal, or state purposes, could result in horrific deaths and destruction, widespread trauma, and serious psychological damage. He noted that technology has enormous potential for both good and evil.
The UN Secretary-General said that the creators of the technology themselves have already issued warnings of much greater, catastrophic, and existential threats in the future. According to Fox News, Guterres warns that without action to address such risks, the world is turning its back on its responsibility to present and future generations.
Previously, the UN Secretary-General called for creating a UN watchdog responsible for monitoring the development of artificial intelligence technology and its use globally. He also welcomed calls from member states to follow that path toward addressing the current threats.
The United States acting deputy representative to the UN, Amb. Jeffrey DeLaurentis had previously tried to highlight AI's benefits and positive potential. These include crop management, weather predictions, and medical assessment.
He noted that using artificial intelligence appropriately can help accelerate progress toward achieving sustainable development goals. In a statement to members of the Security Council, he acknowledged the technology's potential to "compound threats and intensify conflicts."
Guterres' remarks come as the UN is already deploying artificial intelligence in its operations to monitor ceasefires and identify patterns of violence. Additionally, according to CNN, UN peacekeeping and humanitarian operations are now the targets of hostile actors who are utilizing AI technology for malicious purposes.
Benefits and Threats of Artificial Intelligence
The Tuesday meeting was led by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who called for international governance of artificial intelligence. He also wanted it to be tied to principles that uphold freedom and democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, security, property rights and privacy protection, and trustworthiness.
Cleverly said that the meeting was conducted because the technology will directly affect how the council will work moving into the future. He argued that artificial intelligence could enhance or disrupt global strategic stability.
Cleverly added that there is an urgent need to shape the global governance of transformative technologies such as AI because it knows no borders. He said that no country will be untouched by artificial intelligence in the future, which forces officials to be involved and engage the widest coalition of international actors from all sectors.
Additionally, Ian Hogarth, an investor and the chair of the UK government's AI Foundation Model taskforce, said that current AI systems should still be subjected to investigation by experts as we still need to understand them fully, said The Guardian.
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