NEW DELHI: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday cautioned global technology leaders against allowing artificial intelligence (AI) to be shaped by the interests of a powerful few, warning that the technology’s future must not be left to “the whims of a few billionaires”.
Addressing a global AI summit in New Delhi, Guterres called for collective international action to ensure equitable access to the fast-advancing technology.
He urged technology executives and governments to contribute to a proposed $3 billion global fund aimed at promoting open and inclusive AI development, according to AFP.
“AI must belong to everyone,” he said. “The future of AI cannot be decided by a handful of countries – or left to the whims of a few billionaires.”
He warned that without urgent safeguards and inclusive policies, AI risks widening existing global inequalities.
While the technology holds transformative potential, its benefits must be broadly shared to avoid deepening economic and social divides.
“Done right, AI can accelerate breakthroughs in medicine, expand learning opportunities, strengthen food security, bolster climate action and disaster preparedness and improve access to vital public services,” Guterres said.
“But it can also deepen inequality, amplify bias and fuel harm.”
The UN chief highlighted the establishment of a UN AI scientific advisory body designed to help governments make informed decisions about the revolutionary technology.
He stressed the importance of oversight, accountability and ethical standards to protect vulnerable populations.
Guterres emphasized that individuals must be safeguarded from exploitation and misuse of AI systems.
“No child should be a test subject for unregulated AI,” he said, underscoring concerns about unchecked experimentation and insufficient regulatory frameworks.
He also pressed for the creation of a “Global Fund on AI” to help build essential digital infrastructure and technical capacity in developing countries.
“Our target is $3 billion,” he told participants at the summit, which included national leaders and prominent technology executives such as Sam Altman of OpenAI and Sundar Pichai of Google.
“That’s less than one percent of the annual revenue of a single tech company. A small price for AI diffusion that benefits all, including the businesses building AI,” he added.
Warning of the consequences of inaction, Guterres said that without adequate investment and inclusive policies, “many countries will be logged out of the AI age,” exacerbating global disparities in wealth, knowledge and opportunity.
He further cautioned that the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure is driving surging energy and water demands. As data centres multiply worldwide, he stressed that companies must transition to clean energy sources rather than “shift costs to vulnerable communities.”
The UN chief’s remarks underscored growing international debate over the governance of artificial intelligence, as governments and industry leaders grapple with balancing innovation, regulation and equity in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
