António Guterres, the U.N. Secretary-General, has called for the creation of an international watchdog to govern AI technology. To address AI's risks, Guterres proposed a U.N. body similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Guterres welcomed calls from U.N. member states to create an entity to govern AI inspired by the International Atomic Energy Agency — an idea also proposed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. - Additionally, Guterres advocated for a legally-binding agreement by 2026 to prohibit lethal autonomous weapons systems.
- Guterres also announced plans to convene a high-level meeting on AI to explore options for global governance by the end of this year.
His remarks took place during the first-ever U.N. Security Council meeting on AI, chaired by the U.K. - Guterres said AI cyber-attacks have already targeted U.N. peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts.
- Malicious AI use could "cause horrific levels of death and destruction" as well as trauma and psychological damage, he said.
- U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also stressed the importance of global AI governance for preserving freedom, democracy, human rights, and security.
- Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun called for flexible international laws on AI, allowing countries to create their own national rules, while criticizing certain "developed countries" for their pursuit of AI dominance.
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