‘The clock on AI regulation is ticking’, warns UN rights chief

The world is running out of time to put guardrails on artificial intelligence, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned Monday, as a “ruthless race” between companies and countries raises concerns about human safety and even humanity’s survival.Speaking in the UK at an AI and Human Rights Summit in Oxford on Monday, Mr. Türk said the technology could deliver dazzling advances in science, health, education – and even human rights work. But its tools are being built and controlled by a select few, without public oversight, and are already doing things their creators cannot fully predict or manage.Dystopia-creepHe warned that AI could undermine equality, freedom, privacy and public debate in subtle ways, “letting dystopia creep in unnoticed”. Entire populations could be cut off from communication, clean water, heating and financial services “at the click of a button”.He called for urgent action to prohibit machines from deciding who lives and who dies, noting that AI is already changing the face of warfare. He also cited studies showing students who rely on AI retain less and think less independently, and asked whether the world is heading for a future in which no one ...