Artificial intelligence: UN chief warns of risks – 07/18/2023 – Tech

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Tuesday (18) of the risks that Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings to world peace and security, and called for urgent action against this “unprecedented” technology.

“It is evident that AI will have an impact on all aspects of our lives”, in particular generative artificial intelligence, which creates images and texts, declared Guterres at the first meeting that the Security Council addressed the issue.

“Generative AI has enormous potential for both good and bad, on a massive scale,” said the Secretary-General.

While these technologies can “eliminate poverty, fight hunger, cure cancer and boost climate action,” “military and non-military uses of AI can have serious consequences for world peace and security,” he added.

Therefore, he called for a binding instrument to be established by the end of 2026 that prohibits “lethal autonomous weapons systems”, capable of functioning without human supervision, and that the people who control nuclear weapons “never be removed”.

Artificial Intelligence is increasingly used in security matters, including by the UN, which uses it to “identify patterns of violence, monitor ceasefires” or “strengthen peacekeeping, mediation and humanitarian efforts”, recalled Guterres. These technologies can be double-edged, however, because “they can also be used by malicious people.”

“The malicious use of artificial intelligence systems for terrorist, criminal or state purposes can cause horrific levels of death and destruction, widespread trauma and profound psychological damage on an unimaginable scale.”

“Mechanisms for the governance of artificial intelligence” are extremely necessary, said the UN chief, who will ask a group of experts to propose proposals for “options” in this area by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Guterres reiterated his support for the creation of a “United Nations entity” to help optimize the benefits of Artificial Intelligence and reduce the risks, such as the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) or the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). ).