United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned that rapidly advancing artificial intelligence could one day pose an “existential” threat to humanity if governments and technology companies fail to introduce stronger global safeguards. Speaking at the opening of a new session of the UN Human Rights Council, Türk urged immediate international cooperation to ensure AI develops safely.
Türk said the rapid pace of AI development has outstripped existing regulations, raising concerns about risks to public services, communications, democratic institutions, and human rights. He stressed that countries and technology companies should establish clear safety limits and robust oversight before AI systems become too powerful to control.
The UN rights chief also called for independent verification of advanced AI systems, greater transparency from developers, and stronger international collaboration on AI security. He expressed concern that a small number of major technology companies currently hold significant influence over the development of increasingly powerful AI models.
His remarks come amid growing global debate over AI governance following recent incidents involving advanced AI systems and increasing concerns about their potential misuse in cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, surveillance, and autonomous weapons. Experts have warned that without effective regulation, AI could create significant economic, social, and security challenges.
Türk urged governments to work together on common international standards, saying AI governance cannot be left to individual countries or private companies alone. He emphasized that proactive regulation is essential to ensure artificial intelligence benefits society while minimizing risks to human rights and global security.