António Guterres warns of risks from rapid AI development

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned world leaders about the significant risks posed by the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York, Guterres emphasized the need for stricter oversight and global governance to protect citizens from potential AI threats.

Guterres’ position contrasts with that of U.S. President Donald Trump, who maintains that existing regulatory safeguards in the United States are sufficient. The Secretary-General stated, “We cannot ignore the concerns being expressed, especially when they come from those on the front lines of AI development. It is the primary responsibility of every government to protect its citizens, even from the threats of AI.”

Public concern has intensified following comments from Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who resigned in part due to fears that AI developers believe the technology could pose an existential threat by the end of the decade. Additionally, executives from major technology firms have recently called for a slowdown in the pace of AI development.