UN calls for urgent steps to control AI

The United Nations (UN) has called for urgent global steps to bring the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) under control. However, it has been noted that the United States and China are largely underestimating the growing concerns over AI. In particular, US President Donald Trump has rejected the need to impose excessive controls or ‘guardrails’ on AI.

In a letter sent to countries and AI developing organisations, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that the world is on the brink of a change whose impact will fall not only on the present generation but also on future generations. In his view, the race to create more powerful AI is increasing existential risks in almost every area of human life.

Türk called on states and technology companies to take multilateral initiatives to control advanced and ‘frontier’ AI models on the basis of international human rights law.

Concerns over the potential harm of AI have further increased after the warning from two researchers of Anthropic. They fear that if the current pace of technological development continues, the very existence of humanity may come under threat in the near future. Currently, the United States and China are the most advanced in the race to create advanced AI technology.

China has, however, criticised the creation of a ‘threat narrative’ around AI. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun of the country said that the concept of threat, conflict and hostile competition will hinder the global AI governance system. Rather, everyone must work together to make AI open, inclusive and oriented towards human welfare.

On the other hand, Trump has claimed that only a ‘strong and intelligent’ president is needed to control AI. He has also described excessive concerns over AI as a ‘sick conspiracy’. In his view, China may benefit by taking advantage of such doubts.

Meanwhile, Anthropic chief Dario Amodei has called for slowing down the pace of AI development. Several top technology entrepreneurs have supported his proposal. Among them are Elon Musk and OpenAI chief Sam Altman.

Chinese policymakers are also not completely dismissing the risks of advanced AI. Officials of the country have warned about the potential risks of advanced AI models on critical information infrastructure. President Xi Jinping has also said that deep attention must be paid to the inherent and indirect risks of AI and the technology must be kept ‘always under human control’.

A meeting is scheduled to be held next week in the United Nations Security Council on the future risks of AI.