UN warns AI outpaces safety, UNICEF reports children using AI three times faster than adults

A United Nations panel cautioned that artificial‑intelligence systems are advancing toward greater autonomy faster than regulatory understanding can keep pace, warning of “catastrophic” risks if progress remains unchecked. The UN’s AI warning highlighted the speed of development and the deep impact of autonomous technologies.

UNICEF’s latest survey of 10 countries – Armenia, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Mexico, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Pakistan and Serbia – found that about 20 million children have used AI tools, adopting the technology roughly three times faster than adults. Over 2 million respondents said they turn to AI for personal advice, and 13 million use AI to help with school work. Children expressed concerns about fraud, misinformation and the possibility of their photos or videos being turned into sexual deep‑fakes.

The UNICEF report urged governments and tech firms to act, recommending more research on AI’s effects on youth, stronger laws against AI‑enabled sexual exploitation, built‑in safety and transparency in AI design, expanded AI‑literacy education for children and parents, and investment in better internet connectivity to narrow digital gaps.