Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed from a futuristic concept into a powerful force reshaping our world at an unprecedented pace. With its promise of revolutionising industries, increasing productivity, and solving some of humanity’s most pressing problems, AI is rapidly becoming indispensable. However, this progress comes with significant risks, many of which are still not fully understood. In a recent push for global cooperation, the United Nations has urged the world to slow down and reassess the unregulated rise of AI before it spirals beyond control.
Ahead of the highly anticipated "Summit of the Future," the UN released a report highlighting the growing dangers associated with unchecked AI development. The report calls for urgent international oversight and collaboration to prevent the misuse of AI, citing concerns around biases, deepfakes, fraud, and the potential for humanity’s increasing reliance on AI to destabilise society. While the immediate benefits of AI are clear, the long-term risks—ranging from job losses to the potential loss of human control over advanced AI systems—are driving calls for more comprehensive governance.
A Growing Global Concern
AI is not just another technological advancement; it is a transformative force that cuts across national borders, industries, and societies. As it evolves, AI is beginning to exert an outsized influence on the global economy, governance, and even individual autonomy. While some see AI as the key to solving global challenges like hunger, poverty, and inequality, others warn that it could lead to a future where the technology controls us, rather than the other way around.
At the heart of the UN’s concerns is the lack of international regulation for AI. Unlike nuclear energy or climate change, where international treaties and agreements attempt to manage risks, AI development has largely been left to the private sector and individual governments. This fragmented approach has resulted in a global “governance deficit,” with countries and companies racing to develop the most powerful AI tools without considering the broader implications.
The UN report stresses that AI must be developed to "serve humanity equitably and safely," warning that waiting until the risks become undeniable may be too late to effectively regulate the technology. AI’s borderless nature and rapid evolution make it a unique challenge for global governance, requiring cooperation and coordination on a scale rarely seen before.
The Push for an International AI Watchdog
One of the key recommendations in the UN report is the establishment of a scientific body to monitor AI risks and guide global research efforts. Modeled after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), this new body would bring together experts in technology, law, and data protection to assess the risks of AI and propose solutions for mitigating its dangers.
This dream team of AI experts would play a vital role in steering the development of AI in a direction that benefits humanity. They would monitor emerging threats, guide the ethical application of AI, and explore how the technology can be used to tackle issues such as climate change, inequality, and health crises. The formation of such a body would be a significant step toward creating a framework for global AI governance, ensuring that countries and companies cannot unilaterally push the boundaries of AI development without considering its impact on the world.
However, while there is broad support for increased oversight, the UN report stops short of recommending the creation of a full-fledged AI regulatory agency. Instead, it proposes a more modest "co-ordination" structure within the UN secretariat, with the potential to expand into a more robust body if AI risks become more concentrated or severe. The proposal is already being discussed as part of the draft Global Digital Compact, which may be adopted during the upcoming summit.
The Dangers of Unregulated AI
The risks associated with unregulated AI are vast and varied, touching every aspect of modern life. One of the most immediate concerns is the rise of generative AI, which can create realistic images, videos, and even voices with increasingly lifelike accuracy. This has already led to a surge in deepfakes and AI-generated content designed to deceive or manipulate. The ability to create convincing fake news or alter important video footage poses a significant threat to global democracy, journalism, and even personal privacy.
Another major risk is the potential for AI to exacerbate existing biases and inequalities. Many AI systems are trained on data sets that reflect the biases of the society in which they were created. Without proper oversight, these biases can be amplified, leading to discriminatory outcomes in areas such as hiring, policing, and lending. As AI systems are deployed more widely, the stakes of getting these decisions right become higher. If left unchecked, biased AI could entrench societal inequities rather than alleviate them.
Furthermore, AI has the potential to cause widespread disruption to the labor market. A report by the World Economic Forum predicted that 23% of jobs could be affected by AI within the next five years, with millions of jobs potentially disappearing as automation takes over tasks traditionally done by humans. While AI will also create new jobs, the transition is expected to be disruptive, requiring significant investment in reskilling workers and adapting to a rapidly changing economy.
As AI continues to develop, there is also the existential risk of losing control over the technology. Many experts warn that the race toward achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—a form of AI that can learn and understand the world as well as humans—poses significant dangers. Once AGI is achieved, it could evolve at an exponential rate, potentially making decisions that humans are unable to predict or control. The consequences of creating a system that surpasses human intelligence could be catastrophic, leading to a future where humanity’s role is diminished or even endangered.
The Race for AI Supremacy
Despite these risks, the race to dominate AI development is well underway, with tech giants investing billions to create more advanced systems. The rapid growth of AI has led to an extraordinary concentration of wealth and power among those at the forefront of the field. These companies are not only becoming wealthier but are also increasingly shaping the direction of global AI development. As their influence grows, so too does their ability to dictate the trajectory of entire economies and governments.
This centralisation of power is a growing concern for many, as it raises questions about accountability and transparency. If a small number of companies control the most advanced AI systems, what guarantees do we have that these systems will be used for the public good? The UN report highlights this issue, calling for greater international cooperation to ensure that AI serves all of humanity, rather than a privileged few.
Tech companies have long resisted efforts to regulate AI, arguing that innovation could be stifled by too much oversight. However, the potential risks are too great to ignore. While the immediate benefits of AI are already being felt in areas such as healthcare, education, and logistics, the long-term consequences remain uncertain. Without a framework for global governance, there is a risk that the race for AI supremacy could lead to dangerous outcomes, with little accountability for those responsible.
The Future of AI Regulation
As the world grapples with the growing power of AI, the need for regulation is becoming increasingly urgent. The UN’s call for global cooperation is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done to ensure that AI is developed in a way that benefits society as a whole.
The creation of an AI oversight body, whether modeled after the IPCC or another international institution, could provide the tools needed to address the challenges of AI governance. This body would need to be empowered to monitor AI development, enforce ethical standards, and hold companies and governments accountable for their use of the technology. Additionally, a global framework for AI regulation would help to prevent a “race to the bottom,” where countries compete to develop the most powerful AI systems without regard for safety or ethics.
At the same time, any regulatory framework must strike a balance between oversight and innovation. AI has the potential to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems, from climate change to poverty. However, this potential can only be realised if the technology is used responsibly and in a way that prioritieses the public good.
The Crossroads of AI Development
Artificial intelligence holds enormous promise for the future, but it also poses significant risks. As the technology continues to evolve, the need for global cooperation and regulation becomes more pressing. The UN’s recent report serves as a wake-up call, urging world leaders to take action before it is too late. AI’s potential to reshape society is both its greatest asset and its greatest danger. How we choose to manage this technology will determine whether it becomes a tool for solving humanity’s problems or a force that undermines global stability.
The world stands at a crossroads. The decisions made today will have lasting consequences for future generations. By working together, countries and companies can ensure that AI serves humanity equitably, safely, and sustainably. But without action, the risks of unregulated AI could become too great to manage, leading to a future that is as uncertain as it is transformative.
