Published on: 2026-09-18
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Isaiah Steinberg
18 September 2026 Culture and Education
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly raises the question of how society and governments can harness its benefits while simultaneously minimizing risks that often transcend national borders.
These concerns intensified after a former researcher from Anthropic, a company specializing in artificial intelligence, warned that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity.
The UN believes that in order to counter global risks associated with AI, countries need to agree on common principles and commitments regarding its regulation.
Coordination of efforts is “crucial”
“Actions at the national level are important, but coordination of efforts at the global level is crucial,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
For several years, the UN has been working on creating a platform where countries can form a common understanding of artificial intelligence technologies and discuss cooperation in developing regulatory mechanisms in areas such as security, human rights, and combating inequality.
General rules for AI
The current work of the UN in the field of AI governance is based on the Global Digital Compact, adopted by member states in 2024 as part of the Pact for the Future.
The treaty calls for international cooperation in the field of AI and provides for the creation of two new mechanisms: an Independent Scientific Group to assess the risks and opportunities of AI, and an annual Global Dialogue in which governments and other stakeholders could coordinate approaches to AI governance. In August 2025, the UN General Assembly officially established both mechanisms.
An independent international scientific group on artificial intelligence is tasked with providing governments with an independent assessment of information about this rapidly developing technology.
The Global Dialogue on AI Governance, in turn, brings together governments and other stakeholders to discuss international cooperation, share experiences, and align different approaches to AI governance.
Both mechanisms complement each other – the Scientific Group provides factual data, and the countries within the Global Dialogue decide what measures should be taken based on them.
New opportunities and risks
The first Preliminary report of the Scientific Group, published on July 1, notes that AI capabilities are rapidly expanding, especially in areas such as logical reasoning, programming, and science, opening significant prospects.
However, the report also identifies risks such as misinformation, discrimination, violation of the right to privacy, cyberattacks, and the emergence of the so-called “superintelligence,” which may become difficult to control.
“We need a common understanding of how to promote the safe, reliable, and responsible development of AI, as well as to determine in which cases increasingly powerful systems may require enhanced protective mechanisms or additional measures to manage potential risks,” Guterres said, speaking to reporters in New York ahead of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.
AI at the UN High-Level Week
According to media reports, diplomatic sources suggest that the Security Council will discuss artificial intelligence during the High-Level Week.
At the press conference on Wednesday, Guterres emphasized that AI will become “one of the main topics” of his talks with world leaders next week.
Comparing the development of AI to an arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, the Secretary-General called on leading countries in this field, including the US and China, to cooperate in order to slow the development of the technology while its associated risks are being assessed.
“I believe that countries with the most advanced AI capabilities should establish cooperation, exchange information, and develop common safety measures to avoid a race that could one day lead to a global-scale disaster,” said Guterres.
Now that the scientific and diplomatic mechanisms have been established, the UN will continue working to translate this cooperation into concrete actions as AI capabilities further expand.
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