China warned against the technology becoming a "runaway horse" during the United Nations Security Council's first meeting on artificial intelligence, and the United States cautioned against its application to restrict or oppress people.
AI would "fundamentally alter every aspect of human life," according to James Cleverly, the British Foreign Secretary, who presided over the summit while his country held the organization's leadership in July.
“We urgently need to shape the global governance of transformative technologies because AI knows no borders,” he added after saying that AI could help address climate change and boost economies. But he also warned that the technology fuels disinformation and could aid both state and non-state actors in a quest for weapons.
The 15-member council was briefed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Jack Clark, co-founder of high-profile AI startup Anthropic, and Professor Zeng Yi, co-director of the China-UK Research Center for AI Ethics and Governance.
“Both military and non-military applications of AI could have very serious consequences for global peace and security,” Guterres said.
Guterres backs calls by some states for the creation of a new UN body “to support collective efforts to govern this extraordinary technology,” modeled on the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization, or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Meanwhile, Russia questioned whether the council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, should be discussing AI.
“What is necessary is a professional, scientific, expertise-based discussion that can take several years and this discussion is already underway at specialized platforms,” said Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy.
AI would "fundamentally alter every aspect of human life," according to James Cleverly, the British Foreign Secretary, who presided over the summit while his country held the organization's leadership in July.
“We urgently need to shape the global governance of transformative technologies because AI knows no borders,” he added after saying that AI could help address climate change and boost economies. But he also warned that the technology fuels disinformation and could aid both state and non-state actors in a quest for weapons.
The 15-member council was briefed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Jack Clark, co-founder of high-profile AI startup Anthropic, and Professor Zeng Yi, co-director of the China-UK Research Center for AI Ethics and Governance.
“Both military and non-military applications of AI could have very serious consequences for global peace and security,” Guterres said.
Guterres backs calls by some states for the creation of a new UN body “to support collective efforts to govern this extraordinary technology,” modeled on the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization, or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Meanwhile, Russia questioned whether the council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, should be discussing AI.
“What is necessary is a professional, scientific, expertise-based discussion that can take several years and this discussion is already underway at specialized platforms,” said Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy.
