UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for comprehensive global regulations on Artificial Intelligence (AI), highlighting the urgent need as AI technologies designed for civilian use increasingly enter military applications, including so-called “killer robots.”

Speaking at the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva on July 6, 2026, Guterres emphasized that any future agreements must be trustworthy and prioritize safety, especially for children, to shield them from digitally-generated manipulation and abuse. He also stressed the importance of making AI accessible to billions currently without access to this transformative technology.

Echoing these concerns, Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly, urged collective action to combat the darker aspects of AI. She noted that 99% of deepfake content is sexual in nature, with 96% targeting women and girls.

Guterres reiterated his call for AI rules first made to the General Assembly in 2017, warning that AI could change global power dynamics in unpredictable ways. He highlighted that when countries align on testing, risk measurement, and responsibility assignment, safety accompanies the technology; without alignment, fragmented regulations increase costs, divide the world, and leave no one protected.

To bridge gaps in AI governance, Guterres announced that over 20 countries support his initiative for a UN-backed Global Network for Exchange and Cooperation on AI Capacity Building. He also underscored environmental concerns, citing the UN AI Environmental Transparency Initiative, which warns that by 2030, AI could consume more electricity than all but five nations and use enough water to meet the needs of 1.3 billion people in sub-Saharan Africa for a year.

In June 2026, the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence warned that AI could cause catastrophic harm, either independently or through malicious use, and that the technology is advancing faster than scientific understanding and governments’ ability to respond.

Sources