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UN secretary-general warns AI concentration risks deepening global divides, urges inclusive governance
Summary
At the AI summit in Paris, UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres warned that accelerating private and national investments are concentrating advanced AI capabilities in a few hands and urged an inclusive global dialogue to align governance and uphold human rights.
Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary‑general, told leaders at the AI summit in Paris that a growing concentration of artificial intelligence capabilities in the hands of a few companies and countries risks deepening geopolitical divides.
The secretary‑general, according to the UN press office, said most developing nations are “left out in the cold” as some countries and firms race ahead with record investments. He called on member states to use an agreed global dialogue to align governance efforts, reinforce interoperability, uphold human rights in AI applications and prevent misuse.
The UN spokesperson cited the secretary‑general’s grouping of multilateral and regional mechanisms that should be complemented by the global dialogue, including the OECD AI principles, the G7, the Global Partnership on AI and regional bodies such as the African Union, the European Union, ASEAN and the Council of Europe. The secretary‑general also held bilateral meetings on the margins of the summit, including with the secretary‑general of the Council of Europe.
Why it matters: the secretary‑general framed AI governance as both a technical and geopolitical issue, saying unequal access could widen existing development gaps. He urged that a transparent, inclusive platform be used to coordinate governance approaches rather than leaving standards to a limited set of actors.
The secretary‑general’s remarks were delivered while he attended a series of summit events in Paris, including a working breakfast hosted by the French foreign minister and a working dinner hosted by President Emmanuel Macron. The UN press office said he will remain in Paris through the following day and continue outreach to leaders and officials.
No formal UN decision or vote on AI governance was announced at the briefing. The secretary‑general’s recommendations, as reported by the UN, are calls for diplomatic coordination and do not by themselves create new binding obligations for member states.
