“Generative AI has enormous potential for good and evil on a large scale.”, warned the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization (UN), Antonio Guterres, during the first meeting that the Security Council devoted to this matter and which took place on Tuesday, July 18.

The official spoke about the risks that artificial intelligence generates for peace and security in the world and urged urgent action against a technology “without precedents”.

WHY IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE A RISK TO WORLD PEACE?

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, stressed that AI is going to have an impact on all aspects of our lives.

At the same time that these technologies can “eradicate poverty, fight hunger, cure cancer and empower climate action”, “military and non-military applications of AI can have serious consequences for global peace and security”, he warned.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in security, including by the UN, to “identify patterns of violence, surveillance of ceasefires” either “reinforce peacekeeping, mediation and humanitarian efforts”. However, he recalled that they can be double-edged technologies, because “They can also be used by malicious people”.

“The malicious use of artificial intelligence systems for terrorist, criminal or state purposes could cause horrific levels of death and destructionwidespread trauma and deep psychological damage on an unimaginable scalethe official said.

In this context, “mechanisms for the governance of artificial intelligence are urgently needed,” said the UN chief, who is going to ask a group of experts to propose “options” in this field by the end of the year.

WHAT CAN BE DONE SO THAT INTELLIGENCE DOES NOT POSE A THREAT TO WORLD SECURITY?

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, requested that by the end of 2026 a binding instrument is established to prohibit theautonomous lethal weapons systems” that work without human supervision and that “never retire” to the people of nuclear weapons control.

Along these lines, he reiterated his support for the creation of a United Nations entity to help optimize the benefits of artificial intelligence and reduce risks, as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or the UN expert group on climate (GIEC) already do.