UN Chief Warns World Leaders About AI Dangers

The leader of the United Nations is raising a loud alarm about artificial intelligence, or AI. On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned world leaders that AI is growing so fast it could put people in danger. He made the warning ahead of next week's big UN meeting in New York, where leaders from countries around the world will gather. Guterres said stronger rules for AI would be one of the most important topics he would discuss with those leaders.

Guterres made it very clear that the world cannot look the other way when it comes to AI risks. 'We cannot afford to ignore concerns that have been raised, especially by those on the front lines of the development of AI,' he said. He also said that protecting citizens from threats — including AI threats — is the most basic job of any government. His comments put him in direct conflict with President Donald Trump, who said earlier this week that the United States already has enough rules to handle AI problems.

Worry about AI has been growing among everyday people and experts alike. Last week, a researcher at an AI company called Anthropic named Jacob Coxon said he quit his job partly because he believed AI could be deadly. He said people building AI 'earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.' Some of the biggest names in the tech industry have also called for slowing down how fast AI is being developed, which shows just how serious many insiders think the problem is.

Trump pushed back against these concerns on Monday. He said the US already has rules in place to control AI companies and hold them responsible if they break the law. Trump also suggested that worrying too much about AI could actually help China, one of America's biggest rivals. He is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week in Washington, D.C., and a separate meeting between lower-level officials from both countries was already being planned to talk about AI risks.

The United Nations has been trying to build global teamwork on AI for several years now. Back in 2023, the UN created a special 39-member group to study and advise on AI. That group includes tech company leaders, government officials, and university experts from countries like the US, Russia, and Japan. The UN Security Council — a powerful group of 15 countries — also met about AI for the first time that year, and diplomats say it may meet again on the topic during next week's gathering.

Guterres said countries need to work together and agree on how to keep AI safe and responsible. 'We need a shared understanding of how to advance the safe, secure and responsible development of AI,' he said. He added that as AI systems become more powerful, governments may need to put stronger protections in place. The debate over who should control AI — and how — is only expected to grow in the months ahead.