UN warns: Concentrated artificial intelligence power could endanger humanity’s future

Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has expressed concern that the development of artificial intelligence could take the technology to levels that pose a serious risk to humanity.

During a speech to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk called for strong safeguards to be put in place as soon as possible to ensure the safety of AI systems. According to him, action must be taken before the situation becomes irreversible.

“I share the concerns of people in the industry that advanced artificial intelligence could pose an existential risk to humanity,” Türk said.

He called for an international commitment to ensure the controlled use of advanced artificial intelligence systems. The rules, he stressed, must be adopted before the technology reaches a point where the risks can no longer be controlled.

Another concern he raised relates to the vast concentration of technological power in the hands of a very limited number of individuals and companies leading the development of AI.

“We must acknowledge that almost unlimited power over artificial intelligence lies in the hands of just a few people,” he said, without naming anyone in particular.

Türk said that the countries where the leading artificial intelligence companies operate, together with countries involved in the technology’s supply chains, should work together to establish clear boundaries.

“At a minimum, countries hosting the development of artificial intelligence and those involved in its supply chains must unite around common, non-negotiable boundaries,” Türk said.

The UN official’s remarks follow similar warnings from executives at the world’s largest technology companies about the long-term consequences of artificial intelligence. Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, has previously warned that the uncontrolled development of AI could pose major risks to humanity.

The United Nations has called for international rules on artificial intelligence to be harmonized in order to limit the risks associated with its development and use.

In July, the UN held the first global meeting dedicated to the governance of artificial intelligence. The initiative aimed to build a common international approach to a technology that is rapidly transforming the economy, security and society.

Türk’s warning comes at a time when artificial intelligence models are developing at an increasingly rapid pace, while global discussions about the control, safety and accountability of this technology are intensifying.