RismadarVoice Reporters
September 21, 2026
Artificial intelligence is emerging as a major issue at this week’s United Nations General Assembly, as world leaders confront growing questions over how rapidly advancing AI systems should be governed internationally.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly called for coordinated global action on artificial intelligence, warning that the technology is developing faster than governments and societies can fully understand or manage its potential risks.
Ahead of the General Assembly’s high-level week in New York, Guterres identified rapidly advancing AI alongside the climate crisis and deepening inequality as major global challenges requiring stronger international cooperation.
While acknowledging AI’s potential to transform healthcare, education, scientific research and economic development, the UN chief has argued that countries cannot address the technology’s risks independently.
“The world cannot afford a race to the bottom on AI safety,” Guterres said ahead of the high-level meetings.
His position reflects a broader UN effort to establish international mechanisms for AI governance as governments grapple with issues including safety, accountability, human oversight, unequal access to technology and the potential economic and security consequences of increasingly powerful systems.
Earlier this year, the UN convened its first Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, bringing governments and other stakeholders together to discuss common approaches to managing the technology.
The initiative gives UN member states a platform to participate in international AI governance discussions, including developing countries that have historically had less influence over decisions surrounding advanced technologies.
Guterres has maintained that AI development should not be left solely to technology companies or a small number of technologically advanced countries, arguing instead for internationally coordinated safeguards that keep human dignity at the centre.
The 81st session of the UN General Assembly opened on September 8, while its high-level week runs from September 18 to 28. The General Debate, during which heads of state and government outline their priorities, begins on September 22.
With artificial intelligence increasingly influencing economies, employment, information systems and national security, discussions in New York are expected to keep the question of global AI governance firmly on the international agenda.
