Antonio Guterres warns of global AI inequality at BRICS Summit

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi that the gap in artificial intelligence access could deepen existing global inequalities. While AI has the potential to compress decades of development into just a few years, Guterres noted that power in this sector is concentrated within a small number of countries and companies.

He cautioned that if left unmanaged, the AI divide will exacerbate disparities in income, opportunity, security, and sovereignty. Guterres called for international cooperation to help developing nations overcome barriers to computing infrastructure and data.

Beyond technology, the Secretary-General advocated for the reform of multilateral institutions, including the UN Security Council and Bretton Woods institutions, to better reflect modern economic, demographic, and geopolitical realities. He also addressed the need for adherence to international law in conflict zones such as the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan, and emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change through a transition to renewable energy.