Published on: 2026-07-02
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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July 1, 2026 Economic Development
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on governments not to delay the development of international rules in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The occasion was the publication of the first report by the Independent International Scientific Advisory Group on AI, established under the auspices of the United Nations.
Presenting the document at a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, Guterres noted that the world has for the first time received an independent scientific assessment of the opportunities and risks of rapidly developing technologies.
“We can no longer say that we did not know. What we do with this knowledge now depends on all of us,” said the Secretary-General.
“Don’t wait”
The UN chief recalled that several months ago he announced the creation of an Independent International Scientific Group on Artificial Intelligence, which included 40 leading scientists and experts from around the world. According to him, this is the first fully independent international scientific body aimed at filling the knowledge gap about AI and providing an objective assessment of its impact on the economy, society, and security.
“We expect that the group will help the world distinguish facts from falsifications, and science from information noise,” said the Secretary-General.
He noted that the first report was prepared in a record short time and has already been sent to the governments of all UN member states, as well as published in the public domain. The head of the UN emphasized that the document honestly addresses both the enormous potential of artificial intelligence and the threats associated with it.
“With proper use, artificial intelligence can become the most powerful engine of development, accelerating progress in everything—from healthcare and fighting hunger to education and combating climate change,” he noted. However, the Secretary-General added, the report also candidly shows the potential harm these technologies can cause.
The main conclusion, according to Guterres, is that the faster artificial intelligence develops without universal rules, the fewer opportunities governments and society have to influence its future.
“Therefore, my appeal to governments is simple: do not wait,” he said.
From science to international solutions
The Secretary-General emphasized that the published document is only the first stage of the work. As technologies evolve, the group will regularly prepare new assessments and thematic studies.
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The next step will be the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance, which will take place on July 6–7 in Geneva. According to Guterres, its goal is to turn scientific findings into coordinated international actions involving all states.
What is stated in the report
The preliminary report covers seven key areas: the development of AI technologies, their application in healthcare, science, education, and agriculture, impact on the economy, security, the environment, human rights, democratic institutions, culture, child protection, as well as issues of governance and the reliability of artificial intelligence systems.
Speaking at a press conference, the group’s co-chair, scientist Yoshua Bengio, noted that AI capabilities are growing faster than scientific understanding of these systems and the ability of states to adapt to new challenges.
“There is increasing evidence that artificial intelligence systems are capable of deception. Modern science cannot yet guarantee that as their capabilities grow, their use will not lead to catastrophic consequences—either independently or as a result of malicious use,” he warned.
According to Bengio, this is exactly why politicians need an independent scientific foundation to make informed decisions.
The co-chair of the group, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, emphasized that the current trajectory of artificial intelligence development does not guarantee that humanity will be able to take full advantage of the new technology.
“The risks to society, security, and humanity itself are too great, and the forces driving AI development today are not the ones that will ensure benefits for everyone,” she said.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Digital and New Technologies, Amandip Singh Gill, noted that artificial intelligence alone will not eliminate existing inequality.
According to him, the benefits of the new technology are primarily realized by countries and communities where the necessary institutions, qualified specialists, and data already exist. In other cases, AI can lead to job losses, increased social inequality, and greater dependence on technologies developed without considering local needs.
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