UN Panel: AI Safeguards Needed Before Full Risk Certainty
A United Nations scientific panel warns governments must rein in increasingly capable AI agents before their risks are fully understood. The report cements AI's place on the global diplomatic agenda.
A United Nations scientific panel has warned that governments need to control increasingly capable artificial intelligence (AI) agents before their risks are fully understood, in the organization's first major assessment of AI.
The report elevates AI to a central position on the global diplomatic agenda. The panel stresses that the world cannot afford to wait for complete certainty regarding AI risks, advocating for immediate action.
This assessment comes as world leaders gather for the UN General Assembly and as the US and China hold talks on AI. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has previously urged governments to cooperate on addressing AI threats, warning "the world cannot afford a race to the bottom on AI safety."
The panel's findings are highlighted in the UN's first thematic brief on the subject, underscoring the need for proactive measures to manage potential dangers associated with advanced AI technologies.