Humanity’s hand created AI. Humanity’s hand must guide it forward.

Those that feel like technology is moving very fast must understand a simple fact:

Technology will never move as slowly as today.

This rapid growth is outpacing our ability to govern it – raising fundamental questions about accountability, equality, safety and security.

Artificial Intelligence without human oversight would leave the world blind – and perhaps nowhere more perilously and recklessly than in global peace and security.

AI tools are already making a positive difference in countries suffering from conflict and insecurity, including by:

·      Identifying food insecurity and predicting displacements caused by extreme events and climate change.

·      Detecting and clearing landmines.

·      And soon, AI could spot patterns of unrest before violence erupts.

But AI has also entered the battlefield in more troubling ways.

AI’s expansion into security systems raises fundamental concerns about human rights, dignity, and the rule of law – from autonomous border surveillance to predictive policing and beyond.

I have long warned about unforeseen consequences of AI-enabled systems: each advance creates new and unimaginable vulnerabilities.

AI-enabled cyberattacks could cripple a country’s critical infrastructure and paralyze essential services. 

Critically, AI is eroding the fundamental principle of human control over the use of force. From intelligence-based assessments to target selection, algorithms have reportedly already been used in making life-and-death decisions.

Let’s be clear: the fate of humanity must never be left to the ‘black box’ of an algorithm.

Humans must always retain control over decision-making functions – guided by international law, including international humanitarian and human rights laws, and ethical principles.

Humanity’s hand created AI. Humanity’s hand must guide it forward.

Beyond weapons systems, we must also address other risks to peace and security posed by Artificial Intelligence.

AI creates highly realistic online content that can spread instantly across platforms – manipulating public opinion, threatening information integrity, and making truth indistinguishable from outright lies.

Deep fakes could trigger diplomatic crises, incite unrest, and undermine the very foundations of societies.

The environmental footprint of AI also poses distinct security risks.

The massive energy and water consumption of AI data centres, combined with the rush for critical minerals, is creating dangerous competition for resources and geopolitical tensions.

Declarations on AI have been issued from many member countries, regional groups, and international organizations.

The United Nations has pursued efforts to reduce fragmentation of AI governance and help bring these separate initiatives towards a common framework.

Drawing from extensive global consultations, my High-level Advisory Body on AI has developed – in record-time – a blueprint for addressing both the profound risks and opportunities that AI presents to humanity.

Their work laid the foundation for a framework that connects existing initiatives – and ensures that every nation can help shape our digital future.

The United Nations Global Digital Compact transforms this shared vision into action.

Adopted by leaders at the Summit of the Future, the Compact represents the first universally endorsed framework on AI governance.

It commits to establishing an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and initiating a Global Dialogue on AI governance within the United Nations – giving every country a seat at the table.

Every moment of delay in establishing international guardrails increases the risk for us all.

I continue to urge UN member countries to move swiftly in establishing the International Scientific Panel on AI and launching the Global Dialogue on AI Governance within the United Nations.

No country should design, develop, deploy or use military applications of AI in armed conflict that violate international law, humanitarian law and human rights. That includes relying on AI to select or engage targets autonomously.

This week, I urged members of the Security Council to lead by example and ensure that competition over emerging technologies does not destabilize international peace and security.

Our next steps will be crucial – and the choices we make now will define our future.