Who should set the rules for AI? The UN is pushing for a safer digital future

Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly, raising questions about how societies and governments can capture its benefits while managing risks that often extend beyond national borders.Those concerns intensified after a former researcher at the AI company Anthropic warned on 8 September that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity.For the UN, the best way to address AI’s global risks is to bring countries together to adopt shared principles and commitments on AI governance.Coordination is ‘indispensable’“National action is essential, but global coordination is indispensable,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday.The UN has worked for several years to provide a forum where countries can develop a shared understanding of AI technologies and discuss how they can cooperate – and provide a regulatory framework – on issues such as safety, human rights and disparities in access.Rules-based development The UN’s current work on AI governance stems from the Global Digital Compact, adopted by Member States in 2024 as part of the UN’s Pact for the Future, exactly two years ago.The Compact called for international cooperation on AI and proposed two new mechani...