Published on: 2026-07-06
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Speaking at the opening of the first United Nations Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance in Geneva, the Secretary-General also emphasized the need to ensure access to technology for billions of people who have not yet benefited from the digital revolution.
According to him, any future international agreement must “earn the trust of the entire world” and prioritize the safety of people, especially children, protecting them from manipulation and abuse through the use of digital technologies.
The call was joined by the Chair of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock. She called for collective action against the “dark side” of artificial intelligence, reminding that, according to available data, 99 percent of deepfakes are of a sexual nature, and 96 percent of such materials target women and girls.
Bridge the digital divide
Guterres named several more key areas for future regulation. Among them are guaranteed access for developing countries to artificial intelligence technologies, as well as the transition of all data centers servicing AI to renewable energy sources by 2030.
According to the head of the UN, artificial intelligence “is at the very center of our shared future,” but decisions must be made and responsibility taken by people.
International dialogue
In the three years since the rapid spread of generative AI began, this technology has had a revolutionary impact on the economy and society – both positive and negative.
In recent years, the UN has played a leading role in international efforts to develop AI governance mechanisms. An important milestone in this process is the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance, which opened on Monday in Geneva.
UN Musician Gadi Sassoon, drawing inspiration from artificial intelligence, speaks at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva.
It includes representatives from technology companies, the scientific community, and civil society, as well as experts and cultural figures. They discuss how to ensure the development of technology takes humanity’s interests into account. The next Global Dialogue is scheduled for May 2027 in New York.
“Artificial intelligence is too important to have its development determined by only a small group of players. We need a global, inclusive, and science-based dialogue,” said Amandip Singh Gill, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Digital and New Technologies.
The capabilities of AI are growing faster than the understanding of their consequences
Co-chair of the Independent International Scientific Group on Artificial Intelligence Yoshua Bengio noted that there are currently no signs of a slowdown in technology development.
“Advanced artificial intelligence models are already capable of deceiving people and understanding when they are being tested,” he said.
According to him, the level of AI’s cognitive capabilities will continue to grow.
“It sounds like science fiction, but such a prospect is quite real. It can change the world in ways we do not yet understand, and alter the global balance of power in a way that demands the closest attention,” the scientist warned.
“The Equalizer”
According to the Secretary-General, with responsible use and broad access, AI is capable of “shortening the decades usually needed for development to a few years” and becoming “the great equalizer of the 21st century.” However, for this to happen, technologies must undergo rigorous safety checks, and accountability for their application must be clearly defined.
“When countries agree on unified approaches to system testing, risk assessment, and responsibility distribution, safety becomes an integral part of the technology itself. When this does not happen, a mosaic of incompatible rules arises, increasing costs, dividing the world, and protecting no one,” Guterres emphasized.
First and foremost – the safety of children
One of the main priorities of the future agreement, the Secretary-General called the protection of children and proposed that states adopt a Global Commitment to Child Safety in the Field of Artificial Intelligence.
“No child should become a guinea pig for unregulated artificial intelligence,” he stated. “We do not allow drugs to be used until their safety is proven. We check every toy. However, artificial intelligence has already entered children’s lives — education, friendship, and the most personal matters — even before anyone has asked what impact it will have on them.”
UN Photo/I. Popa Secretary-General António Guterres speaks at the opening of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance.
According to the UN initiative, AI developers must prove that their systems are safe for children. No company should release a product accessible to children without special tests and independent oversight. It is also proposed to establish a zero-tolerance principle for AI-generated images of sexual abuse of children. All such materials must be automatically detected, handed over to competent authorities, and removed.
In addition, if the system detects signs of a child’s psychological distress, it must cease interaction and refer them to real specialists.
“If a child is harmed, the response should never be: ‘That’s what the algorithm decided,'” emphasized the Secretary-General.
Human Rights and Transparency
Another key principle of future regulation named by the UN head was the observance of human rights.
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“Artificial intelligence should never strip people of dignity or reinforce discrimination. In matters of justice, healthcare, or law enforcement, machines can assist, but decisions and responsibility must always remain with humans,” he stated.
State investments are still incomparable to private ones
Guterres also called for increased government investment in AI development. According to him, the volume of private investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure today amounts to about $500 trillion, while government support for developing countries in this area remains “a drop in the ocean.”
To bridge this gap, the Secretary-General announced that more than 20 countries have already supported the UN initiative to create a Global Knowledge Exchange and Cooperation Network for capacity building in the field of AI.
“We cannot allow the digital divide to turn into a gap in AI, and then into a gap in development, security, and sovereignty,” he emphasized.
The environmental footprint of AI
The Secretary-General once again called on the largest companies to disclose information about the environmental footprint of their AI systems – electricity, water, and land consumption – and to ensure that all data centers switch to renewable energy sources by 2030.
“Artificial intelligence may seem intangible, but its environmental footprint is very real,” said Guterres.
According to him, by 2030 data centers could consume more electricity than all countries in the world except the five largest, and the volume of water they use would be comparable to the annual needs of 1.3 billion people in sub-Saharan African countries.
In this regard, the UN chief once again called for support of the Organization’s initiative to ensure environmental transparency in the field of artificial intelligence.
How international efforts to regulate AI have developed
2017: The UN Secretary-General called for the creation of international mechanisms to regulate artificial intelligence for the first time. He noted the “astonishing” potential of the technology while warning about its possible impact on the labor market, international security, and the “social fabric”.
2023: The high-level advisory body on AI called for the creation of a global governance system for this technology.
2024: The Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact secured the mandate to develop an international AI governance model.
June 2026: An independent international UN scientific group on artificial intelligence warned that AI is capable of “leading to catastrophic consequences both on its own and as a result of malicious use,” as the development of the technology outpaces both scientific understanding and the ability of states to adapt to new challenges.
July 6-7, 2026: the first UN Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance and the AI for Good Summit are held in Geneva.
According to the Secretary-General, these events are precisely what should determine the further direction of international efforts.
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