United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised concerns about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) during a global AI summit in India. Guterres emphasized the importance of ensuring that the development and control of AI technology are not monopolized by a select group of billionaires. He urged technology leaders to back a $3 billion global fund aimed at providing equal access to AI advancements for everyone.
Guterres stressed that AI should be accessible to all, and decisions regarding its future should not be dictated solely by a few countries or individuals. He highlighted the risks of widening inequality if immediate actions are not taken to address these issues. While acknowledging the positive impacts of AI in areas such as healthcare, education, food security, climate change response, disaster preparedness, and public services, Guterres also underscored the potential for AI to exacerbate existing inequalities, perpetuate biases, and cause harm.
The UN has established an AI scientific advisory body to assist nations in navigating the complexities of this transformative technology. Guterres emphasized the need to safeguard individuals from exploitation and ensure that no child becomes a subject of unregulated AI experiments. He called for the implementation of global regulations to enforce oversight and accountability, as well as the establishment of a “Global Fund on AI” to enhance foundational capabilities.
During the summit, which brought together world leaders and prominent tech executives like Sam Altman from OpenAI and Sundar Pichai from Google, Guterres proposed a target of $3 billion for the fund, emphasizing that this amount is a modest investment in comparison to the profits of major tech companies. He warned that without adequate investment, many countries risk being left behind in the AI era, further widening global disparities. Additionally, Guterres highlighted the importance of transitioning data centers to sustainable energy sources to mitigate the environmental impact of AI technology and prevent the burden from falling on vulnerable communities.