UN chief Antonio Guterres at the Paris summit. UN Secretary-General in Paris: ‘We are not ready for the AI future’ Economic development
The world is not ready for the AI future, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said today at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris. “We may not even be ready for the present,” he said.
Once the stuff of “science fiction,” AI is now a powerful force transforming the world, the Secretary-General said. “AI is changing the way we live, work and interact,” he said. AI is enabling breakthroughs in areas such as education, health and agriculture, but it is also challenging people’s values and rights.
Preventing inequalities in AI
Using AI comes with enormous responsibility, Guterres said. Today, AI opportunities are concentrated in the hands of a few: while some companies and countries are making record investments in the technology, most developing countries are being left behind, the Secretary-General said, calling for an end to inequalities in AI.
“We need a coordinated effort to build resilient digital infrastructure on an unprecedented scale,” Guterres said.
“Today’s launch of the AI in the Public Interest Fund is an important contribution,” he added.
AI Governance: Put Technology to Serve Humanity
The UN offers an inclusive, transparent and effective platform for AI governance. “We are working to strengthen this platform,” he said.
The Global Digital Compact, adopted at the Future Summit last year, includes the first universal agreement on AI governance. “It unites the world around a common goal: technology should serve humanity, and not the other way around,” the Secretary General said.
The establishment of an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI will be a key step in realizing this vision. “This panel will promote a shared understanding of the risks, benefits, opportunities and capabilities of AI,” the UN chief said. He called on the international community to support the creation of the panel.
Member states also agreed to establish a Global Dialogue on AI Governance at the UN so that all countries can participate in shaping the future of AI. “Through the Global Dialogue, we can align AI governance efforts around the world,” Guterres said.
US Vice President J.D. Vance warned against overly strict controls on artificial intelligence. “Over-regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry that is just starting to gain momentum,” he added.
AI and Climate
The UN chief noted that AI could be an important tool in the fight against climate change, but it could also put additional strain on natural resources.
“AI algorithms and infrastructure need to be developed that consume less energy,” he concluded.
“AI will not replace creativity”
Speaking at the summit, Singer Pharrell Williams has dismissed concerns that AI could make humans redundant or take their jobs. “There’s too much fear around that,” he said.
“We’re not going to use AI to write a song,” Williams said, adding that the technology “is not going to replace creativity.”