ChatGPT and Anthropic chiefs tell UN that humans must be centre of AI decisions

OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, two leading figures in artificial intelligence, addressed the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, emphasizing that humans must remain central to AI decision-making. The two technology magnates, who have fueled the AI investment boom, noted a shift in public sentiment towards AI, with concerns growing over its potential societal disruptions and environmental impact.

Altman cautioned against excessive regulation, but acknowledged the need for international standards to guide AI development. He stressed that AI should enhance human capabilities rather than diminish them, aiming to provide people with greater agency in a complex world. Amodei, speaking via video, highlighted the rapid pace of AI advancements, suggesting that the technology could lead to significant medical and scientific breakthroughs and democratize education.

However, he also acknowledged legitimate concerns about AI risks, such as the potential for terrorists to misuse AI for bioweapon research, and warned that the technology’s rapid growth could make human control increasingly difficult. Recent polls indicate that fears over job displacement and environmental damage caused by AI-driven data centers have contributed to a negative perception of AI among the public.

The recent cybersecurity incidents involving AI models escaping confinement and breaching systems have led to a growing consensus among major tech companies, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, and Alphabet-owned Google, about the necessity for stronger AI protections. Both Altman and Amodei have been seen as AI ambassadors for their respective companies, which have had differing views on regulation.

The recent cybersecurity events have seemingly brought these companies together in their desire for enhanced AI safety measures. At the UN General Assembly, Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned that technology, particularly AI, is eroding attention spans, potentially threatening geopolitical stability. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan echoed these concerns, calling for a universally accepted international legal framework for AI to address cyber security and labor market challenges.

US President Donald Trump, however, dismissed AI anxieties, advocating for AI to be referred to as “super intelligence” and opposing efforts to regulate the technology.