Published on: 2026-07-01
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Daniel Dickinson
July 1, 2026 Economic Development
Artificial intelligence is developing faster than state institutions are able to respond to this process. Only a few years ago, AI could merely answer users’ questions or generate text; today it can write computer code, analyze vast amounts of data, create realistic images and video content, assist scientists in developing new medicines — and more and more often it operates independently, with minimal human supervision.
Safe use of AI is only possible under the condition of strict adherence to certain rules. This is the main conclusion of the authors of the preliminary report of the Independent International UN Scientific Group on Artificial Intelligence, which was published on Wednesday.
A scientific group warns that the window for organizing effective global AI governance remains open, but this situation may not last long.
Why is this important?
AI has the potential to become one of humanity’s most revolutionary technologies. When used responsibly, it can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals by improving healthcare and education, speeding up scientific research, advancing agriculture, and making life easier for people with disabilities.
On the other hand, without oversight, this technology can deepen inequality, spread misinformation, threaten human rights, and disrupt labor markets. There is also the risk that powerful AI systems will be concentrated in the hands of a limited number of governments and companies.
According to the report, the main task at this stage is to find a way to unlock the huge advantages of AI while simultaneously preventing its growing risks.
© Adobe Stock/DIgilife Major medical breakthroughs are being made with the support of artificial intelligence.
To act proactively
In recent years, AI capabilities have developed at an incredible speed. The next wave is already approaching. Instead of simply responding to requests, AI agents increasingly plan multifaceted tasks, independently use new digital tools, write software, and perform complex assignments with almost no human supervision.
According to the report, the complexity of tasks that AI systems can perform doubles every few months.
Advantages: how can AI help us?
The scientific group’s report contains a long list of real achievements recently made possible by AI.
Medical breakthroughs: AI predicted the structure of about 200 million proteins, accelerated the discovery of new drugs, vaccine development, and antibiotic resistance research.
Improvements in healthcare systems: doctors use AI for the early detection of dangerous diseases such as breast cancer. Medical workers in developing countries use AI tools in local languages to improve patient care.
Food security: AI-based early warning systems help detect signs of food shortages before a food crisis begins.
Improving lives: AI makes technology more accessible to people with disabilities and expands opportunities for personalized education and mental health support
An international scientific group emphasizes in its report that this is not about the future – the technological revolution is happening right now.
Risks: what worries the experts?
Experts note that artificial intelligence creates fundamentally new dangers.
Online violence: AI can contribute to the spread of materials related to sexual violence, as well as explicit deepfakes. The greatest danger is posed to women and children.
Disinformation: AI can create convincingly sounding false information, undermining trust in public debates and democracy.
Crime: criminals are increasingly using AI to conduct cyberattacks and for fraudulent purposes.
Mental health: Some AI systems can reinforce harmful beliefs, leading to mental health crises, including suicide attempts.
Loss of control: As AI becomes more autonomous, it becomes increasingly difficult to control.
Environmental impact: Data centers, which consume huge amounts of electricity, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
Some have pulled ahead, others are trailing behind
Although artificial intelligence is used worldwide, broad access to AI is mainly concentrated in developed countries. The United States possesses about three quarters of the global computing power of leading AI-based supercomputers; China holds about 15 percent – thus, only two countries own roughly 90 percent of all AI capacity on Earth. Most advanced AI models are developed by companies also based in the US and China.
At the same time, many developing countries lack computational infrastructure, technical capabilities, and data, as well as investments and resources in local languages necessary for the full use of AI. As a result, such states often depend on technologies they are unable to create, verify for safety, or adapt to their communities themselves.
An international scientific group warns that if these gaps are not addressed, AI may exacerbate existing global inequality rather than reduce it.
© UNICEF/H. Rutherford In Uganda, a visually impaired student uses an AI-based assistive device for reading and writing lessons.
Why does AI need regulation?
According to experts, modern technical governance systems were not designed for technologies that develop so rapidly. Governments face what is often called the “evidence dilemma”: policymakers need reliable scientific data to implement control measures, but by the time this data is obtained, technologies may have advanced even further.
Although more than 40 AI governance restrictions and ethical guidelines already exist worldwide, they remain fragmented and inconsistent, and are rarely tested for effectiveness.
The report states that ensuring the safety, transparency, and accountability of AI systems requires more qualified independent expertise, international cooperation, and the introduction of common standards. Furthermore, countries need significant investments in digital infrastructure, education, and technical capacity.
What does the United Nations do?
The United Nations supports the idea of creating a new international framework to assist countries in making informed decisions in the field of AI.
In 2025, the UN General Assembly established the Independent International Scientific Group on Artificial Intelligence, composed of 40 experts from all regions of the world, working on a voluntary basis.
The role of this commission is scientific, not regulatory. It monitors the latest data related to AI capabilities and risks, and prepares independent reports that governments can use in developing national policy.
The scientific group’s findings will be presented at the UN Global Forum on AI Governance, which will open in Geneva on July 6.
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