The Takeaway: UN General Assembly debate Day 5

Sunday, September 27, 2026UN NewsFrom artificial intelligence to migration, some of the forces reshaping the twenty-first century took centre stage at the UN General Assembly on Saturday. Leaders wrestled with a common dilemma: how to harness profound technological and social change without allowing it to deepen the divisions already separating countries and communities. This edition of The Takeaway distils key points from Day 5 of the annual high-level debate.AI: Great promise, serious perilWhy it matters: Artificial intelligence emerged as one of the day’s defining themes, with speakers describing a technology capable of transforming economies and improving lives, but also potentially widening inequality, undermining trust and threatening security.China’s Vice President Han Zheng said AI should be developed “for the positive and for good”, while calling for efforts to narrow the digital divide.Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan described AI as “the most urgent frontier”, arguing that governments need to invest in infrastructure and skills alongside safeguards and rigorous rules. His bottom line was distinctly human: “Human beings must remain in control and accountab...