UN Council to hold first global peace meeting on potential threats of artificial intelligence

With the rise and advent of commercialized artificial intelligence, the U.N. Security Council would delve into the potential threats this technology poses to international peace and security. This groundbreaking meeting, scheduled on July 18 in the hallowed halls of the United Nations, would be a testament to the rise of AI and recognition of its impact as a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, AI holds immense promise. It can revolutionize U.N. development programs, streamline humanitarian aid operations, bolster peacekeeping efforts, and even help bridge the gap between developing and developed nations. But on the other hand, it presents significant risks. The specter of AI-controlled autonomous weapons and nuclear arsenals looms large, raising serious security and ethical questions. 

U.K. Ambassador Barbara Woodward would emphasize the need for a global effort to manage the opportunities and risks AI presents. Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres would highlight the raised stakes of this situation by likening the existential threat of advanced AI to the early years of nuclear war.

As the world stands on the precipice of an AI-driven future, this pivotal meeting would start a long series of discussions on AI regulation. Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the UK will host a summit on AI later this year where an AI-focus global multilateral discussion will begin.