UN Secretary-General Guterres: Humanity’s Fate Must Not Be Left to Algorithms

Kokcha News Agency:  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has emphasized that humanity’s fate must not be left to algorithms, particularly in the context of military conflicts. Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on “Artificial Intelligence and International Peace and Security,” Guterres highlighted the rapid transformation of daily life, information, and the global economy by AI, while warning of its potential misuse in warfare.

“The question is not whether artificial intelligence will affect international peace and security, but how we will shape this impact,” Guterres said. He pointed out that recent conflicts have become testing grounds for AI-assisted targeting and autonomy, stressing that “humanity’s fate cannot be left to an algorithm. People must always have the final say over life-and-death decisions.”

Guterres called on the Security Council and UN member states to ensure that the military use of AI fully complies with international law and the UN Charter. He reiterated his call for a ban on lethal autonomous weapon systems that operate without human control, emphasizing the need to preserve human judgment in all uses of force.

The Secretary-General also underscored the importance of creating consistent global regulatory frameworks for AI. “Legal reviews, human accountability, and strong safeguards against misuse must clearly regulate military applications. We need greater transparency, trust-building, and cooperation to reduce risks, especially in conflict zones,” he said.

Guterres also addressed the issue of AI-generated misinformation, warning that AI systems can spread disinformation and incite violence. He called for systemic security measures to prevent this, urging governments, platforms, media, and civil society to collaborate in detecting and deterring AI-generated deceptions.