Download App

[AI Risk Debate: Guterres Calls for Stronger Regulation, Trump Claims Safeguards Are Already in Place] 1. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned world leaders on Wednesday of the significant risks posed by rapidly developing artificial intelligence, a stark contrast to US President Donald Trump's stance that existing safeguards are sufficient. Speaking to reporters ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York, Guterres said the need for stronger regulation would be a major topic of discussion with global leaders. 2. Guterres stated, "We cannot ignore the concerns that have been raised, especially those from the front lines of AI development. Protecting one's citizens—including from the threats of AI—is the primary responsibility of any government." This comes after Jacob Coxon, a researcher at Anthropic, announced his resignation last week, partly due to concerns about potential existential risks from AI by the end of the decade, raising heightened public concern about the potential dangers of AI. Leaders of some of the industry's largest companies have called for a slowdown in the pace of technological development. 3. Trump downplayed concerns expressed by industry leaders on Monday, stating that the US has established safeguards to regulate and punish AI companies. 4. Guterres has long championed the establishment of a global AI governance mechanism. In 2023, the United Nations established a 39-member advisory body on artificial intelligence, including executives from technology companies, government officials, and academics from countries such as the United States, Russia, and Japan. Diplomatic sources indicate that the UN Security Council may also discuss artificial intelligence during the annual World Leaders' Meeting in New York next week. 5. Guterres stated that the most advanced and powerful nations at the forefront of artificial intelligence "should establish mechanisms for communication, information exchange, and common safeguards to avoid a race to the bottom, as such competition could potentially lead to a massive global catastrophe in the future." He emphasized, "We need to reach a common understanding on how to promote the safe, reliable, and responsible development of artificial intelligence, while clarifying under what circumstances increasingly capable AI systems may require more stringent security measures or additional means to manage potential risks."