1 hr ago
UN rights chief warns AI could threaten humanity
Volker Turk is a senior United Nations human rights official.
He warned that very powerful artificial intelligence could someday seriously threaten people.
He said companies and governments need to make AI safe before it is too late.
Turk was especially concerned that a small number of people control much of the technology.
He asked countries connected to AI development and supply chains to agree on limits.
His warning was made at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Other AI leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, have also discussed severe risks from AI.
The United Nations has started meetings and efforts to create common rules for the technology.
UN rights chief Volker Turk said advanced AI could pose an existential risk to humanity.
Turk called for strong safety and security guarantees before AI becomes too powerful.
He said a small number of men currently hold almost unlimited power over AI.
Turk urged countries hosting AI and involved in its supply chains to agree on red lines.
The United Nations has already begun efforts toward harmonized AI rules, including a first global governance meeting in July.
- Who
- UN rights chief Volker Turk, AI companies, governments, and other countries involved in AI supply chains.
- What
- Turk warned that advanced AI could pose an existential risk to humanity and called for strict safety guarantees and agreed limits.
- Where
- The warning was delivered to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
- When
- The warning was issued on Monday, ahead of Turk’s second term beginning next month; the United Nations held its first global AI governance meeting in July.
- Why
- Turk said safeguards are needed because advanced AI could become powerful enough to threaten humanity, while control is concentrated among a small number of people.
Key facts
- Speaker
- UN rights chief Volker Turk
- Location
- UN Human Rights Council, Geneva
- Main concern
- Advanced AI could pose an existential risk to humanity
- Requested action
- Put strong safety and security guarantees around AI
- Proposed cooperation
- Countries should agree on red lines for AI
- Prior UN effort
- The United Nations held its first global meeting on AI governance in July
- Companies mentioned
- Meta, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google
Quotes
Volker Turk
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
“I am calling here, today, for an all-out effort to put cast iron guarantees in place around the safety and security of AI, before it is too late.”
telegraphindia.com
“At a minimum, we need countries hosting AI and those involved in its supply chains to come together around agreed red lines.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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