António Guterres has warned that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is outpacing global oversight, urging countries to adopt harmonised international regulations to ensure the technology is developed and used responsibly, particularly to protect children.
Speaking at the first government-level global dialogue on AI governance in Geneva, Guterres said AI is advancing faster than governments, regulators, and even developers can manage. He stressed that a technology capable of reshaping economies, influencing elections, transforming workplaces, and affecting global security requires strong safeguards.
The two-day United Nations dialogue aims to promote discussions on AI governance rather than negotiate a binding treaty. Delegates are reviewing the first independent global scientific assessment of AI, prepared by a UN-backed panel of 40 experts, with a more detailed report expected next year.
Highlighting the risks faced by children, Guterres proposed an AI Child Safety Pledge that would require companies to prove AI systems are safe before making them accessible to minors. He also called for strict measures to prevent AI from generating sexual images involving children and urged developers to ensure AI systems connect distressed children with human assistance instead of continuing harmful interactions.
Guterres noted that while AI has enormous potential in sectors such as healthcare and education, global institutions remain unprepared for increasingly autonomous systems making decisions with limited human oversight. He also expressed concern that AI development is heavily concentrated among a small number of companies and countries.
According to the UN-backed report, the United States accounts for about 75% of the computing power used by the world’s top 500 AI supercomputers, while China holds around 15%. Leaders from Africa and other developing regions urged greater inclusion in AI governance, warning that unequal access to AI infrastructure could widen the global digital divide rather than reduce it.
