World faces crossroads to choose whether govern AI by design or drift by default - UN chief

THE world is at a critical crossroads to choose whether to govern artificial intelligence (AI) by design or let it drift by default, as the world-transforming technology is advancing at a "runaway speed", United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday.

Addressing the opening of the first session of the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance Monday in Geneva, Guterres expressed his hope that the dialogue will serve as a platform to translate global engagement into concrete actions that make AI "safer, fairer, more accessible and more ethical".

"Artificial intelligence is advancing at runaway speed. A technology that can reshape economies, transform the world of work, sway elections, and tilt the balance of security is being deployed faster than anyone, including the people building it, can keep up. An experiment is being run on our own societies – without a plan, and without consent. That is not sustainable. And it is not acceptable. AI is already transforming our world. The question is whether we will shape this transformation together, or let it shape us," he said.

Outlining four priorities for AI governance: ensuring safety and security, safeguarding human rights, building capacity, and enhancing transparency, the UN chief urged a more prudent global AI governance.

"No future builds itself. And so, the choice before us is not between faith in AI or fear of it; it is between governing by design and drifting by default. We do not let medicine reach a child until it is proven safe. We test every toy. Yet AI has reached our children, their learning, their friendships, their most private questions, before anyone asked what it would do to them. In every high-stakes decision, in justice, in healthcare, in policing, machines can inform, but humans must decide and answer," said Guterres.

The dialogue features high-level plenary sessions, thematic discussions and side events. During the meeting, the UN's Independent International Scientific Panel on AI will present a preliminary report assessing AI's opportunities, risks and impacts, and provide reference material for further discussions.

The Global Dialogue on AI Governance was established under a mandate from the UN General Assembly as part of the Global Digital Compact. It aims to provide a platform for governments and stakeholders to ensure that AI governance reflects the priority concerns of all countries and achieves inclusive sharing of AI development outcome.