UN secretary-general calls for regulation of artificial intelligence

The UN Security Council met for the first time on the threat of artificial intelligence to international peace and stability.

Here's What We Know

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the creation of a global watchdog to monitor the new technology. He warned that they could ease the way for criminals, terrorists and other actors seeking to cause "death and destruction, widespread trauma, and deep psychological damage on an unimaginable scale".

According to Guterres, the governing body should be a UN watchdog that would oversee compliance with AI regulations, similar to the way other agencies oversee aviation, climate and nuclear energy.

The proposed agency would be made up of experts in the field. They would share their expertise with governments that may lack the technical knowledge to deal with AI threats.

The prospect of a legally binding resolution remains distant. Nevertheless, most diplomats have endorsed the idea of a global governance mechanism and a set of international rules.

Guterres also said the UN should come up with a legally binding agreement banning the use of AI in weapons of war by 2026.

Source: The New York Times.