The United Nations Security Council convened its inaugural meeting on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) on Tuesday. During the meeting, China expressed concerns about AI becoming an uncontrollable force, while the United States cautioned against its use for censorship or oppression.
James Cleverly, Britain's Foreign Secretary and the meeting's chair, emphasised the profound impact of AI on every aspect of human life. He stressed the need for global governance of transformative technologies, as AI transcends national borders. Cleverly highlighted the potential of AI in addressing climate change and boosting economies, but also warned about its role in disseminating disinformation and supporting the development of weapons by state and non-state actors.
The 15-member council received briefings from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Jack Clark (co-founder of prominent AI startup Anthropic), and Professor Zeng Yi (co-director of the China-UK Research Center for AI Ethics and Governance). Guterres expressed concerns about both military and non-military applications of AI, emphasising their potential impact on global peace and security.
Guterres supports the establishment of a new UN body to govern AI, similar to existing bodies like the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Civil Aviation Organization, or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. This proposal aims to facilitate collective efforts in regulating this transformative technology.
China's UN Ambassador, Zhang Jun, referred to AI as a "double-edged sword" and advocated for the UN to play a central role in establishing guiding principles for AI. Zhang emphasised the importance of human-centric approaches to regulate AI's development and prevent it from becoming uncontrollable.
Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Deputy US Ambassador to the UN, echoed the need for international collaboration on AI and other emerging technologies to address human rights risks that could undermine peace and security. He stressed that AI should not be used by any member state to censor, suppress, or disempower individuals.
Russia raised questions about whether the Security Council, responsible for maintaining global peace and security, should be discussing AI. Russia's Deputy UN Ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, suggested that a professional, scientific, and expertise-based discussion on AI should take place at specialised platforms over several years.
The Security Council's dialogue on AI reflects the growing recognition of the importance of governance and regulation in this field, as countries grapple with the potential risks and benefits associated with AI technology.