UN Chief Warns of AI Safety Race, Urges Global Cooperation

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Wednesday that the world cannot afford a "race to the bottom on AI safety" as development outpaces understanding of the risks. Speaking to reporters six days before the General Assembly's high-level week in New York, he identified runaway artificial intelligence as one of three existential threats alongside the climate crisis and deepening inequalities.

Guterres stressed that while national action is essential, global coordination is indispensable because AI does not stop at borders. He endorsed the need for guardrails to make AI safe, transparent, and accountable, referencing a proposal from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.

“The world cannot afford a race to the bottom on AI safety.”

The Secretary-General contrasted with US President Donald Trump, who said on Monday that existing US mechanisms are sufficient to regulate AI companies and cautioned that questioning AI development could benefit China. Guterres will leave office on December 31.

Ecuadorian-Lebanese diplomat Ivonne A-Baki, a candidate to succeed Guterres, called for regulating AI like nuclear weapons and urged cooperation between Washington and Beijing. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also announced new regulatory efforts Wednesday.

Industry concerns have mounted recently. Researcher Jacob Coxon left Anthropic last week, citing fears that developers believe AI could pose an extreme threat to humanity by the end of the decade. Some executives have urged a slowdown in development.

Guterres also reiterated calls for a two-state solution in the Middle East, a ceasefire in Ukraine, and reform of global institutions without abandoning core UN principles.