UN Security Council to hold meeting on AI next week amid international concern

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to convene on artificial intelligence next week, as rising international apprehension over the rapid advancement of the technology sparks debate. According to a French diplomatic source, the meeting will take place during the United Nations General Assembly, which will see numerous world leaders in attendance at UN headquarters in New York. France currently serves as the rotating presidency of the Security Council and the host nation for the G7.

The meeting will address AI from two perspectives: the existential risk it poses to global security and the potential dangers it presents to children. Volker Turk, the United Nations' rights chief, urged countries and "frontier" artificial intelligence companies to take immediate action to mitigate these risks. In a letter to nations and AI developers, Turk warned that humanity stands "on the cusp of irreversible change, affecting not just us but generations of humanity to come."

Turk emphasized that the current "race towards ever more powerful AI" represents a significant step towards greater existential risks for all aspects of life. He called for states and companies to collaborate through multilateral forums to develop guidelines for governing advanced AI models, ensuring compliance with international human rights law. The safety of AI has garnered global attention in recent weeks, with some AI technology company executives calling for stricter regulation to temper its development.

Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly will also focus on events in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine. France, as the current holder of the Security Council presidency and the G7 presidency, aims to advocate for multilateralism amid mounting pressure on international institutions.