OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is set to brief the United Nations Security Council on artificial intelligence and international security. The briefing, scheduled for next week, comes amid growing global calls for stronger safeguards and a coordinated approach to AI development. Altman's remarks are expected to focus on international coordination, shared safety standards, and responsible AI development. The Security Council meeting has been convened by France, which holds the council presidency for September.
The meeting will be chaired by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Nol Barrot. A concept note circulated to council members by France highlighted concerns over the potential misuse of AI and called for action to promote its safe and responsible development. The note emphasized the urgency of action to foster safe and responsible development of artificial intelligence for the benefit of the international community. This discussion marks a significant step in the international community's engagement with AI-related risks.
The UN Security Council first discussed AI risks in 2023. During that meeting, China warned that AI should not become a "runaway horse," while the US raised concerns about the technology being used to censor or repress people. The upcoming discussion also comes as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls for stronger international cooperation to address AI-related risks. Guterres noted that AI development is moving faster than the world's understanding of its potential risks.
Guterres emphasized the need for genuine international cooperation and a coordinated global effort to make AI safe, transparent, and accountable. His remarks come amid wider calls from some AI industry figures for a slower pace of development and stronger safeguards. The debate has intensified following Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's public call to slow AI development, with support from figures including Altman, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Google's Demis Hassabis.
Altman's appearance before the Security Council is expected to add a technology industry perspective to discussions on addressing AI opportunities and risks. The international community is seeking to balance the benefits of AI with concerns about its potential misuse. The UN General Assembly's High-level Week is also set to discuss AI and other global issues, with nearly 130 heads of state and government expected to attend.
The Security Council discussion on AI is part of a broader effort to address the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies. The council's engagement with AI-related issues reflects the growing recognition of the need for international cooperation to mitigate risks and ensure that AI benefits all. France's role in convening the meeting underscores the importance of international collaboration on AI governance.
As the international community continues to grapple with AI-related challenges, Altman's briefing to the Security Council is seen as a crucial step towards developing a coordinated global approach to AI development and governance. The meeting is expected to contribute to ongoing discussions on how to ensure that AI is developed and used responsibly, with human dignity at the center.
Key points
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to brief the UN Security Council on AI and international security.
- The briefing comes amid growing global calls for stronger safeguards and a coordinated approach to AI development.
- The discussion will focus on international coordination, shared safety standards, and responsible AI development.
