The UN secretary-general cautioned that artificial intelligence (AI) is being exploited to propagate disinformation and hatred and supported a proposal for an international watchdog. At the unveiling of a new misinformation strategy on Monday, Antonio Guterres stated that although technology has been beneficial, AI concerns democracy and human rights. Guterres supported a proposal by artificial intelligence executives to create an IAEA-like agency. Since ChatGPT began six months ago, generative AI technology has captivated the public by answering queries, summarizing material, and producing code. AI’s potential to create disinformation and deep fakes, which imitate people, has raised concerns.
Heeding AI warnings
“Generative AI alarm bells are deafening. Guterres told reporters that the developers who designed it are the loudest. “These scientists and experts have called on the world to act, declaring AI an existential threat to humanity on par with nuclear war. Take those warnings seriously.” Guterres aims to establish a high-level AI advisory committee by the end of the year to assess AI governance arrangements and provide suggestions to align them with human rights, the rule of law, and the common good. He said on Monday: “I would be favorable to the idea that we could have an artificial intelligence agency… inspired by what the international agency of atomic energy is today.” Guterres called such a concept “very interesting” but stated “only member states can create it, not the Secretariat of the United Nations”. The 1957-founded Vienna-based IAEA supports the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technologies and monitors nuclear weapons breaches. 176 nations are members.
Global AI safety regulation
Last month, ChatGPT inventor OpenAI claimed the IAEA might restrict deployment, verify safety requirements, and track processing power use. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak supports the proposal and wants Britain to lead worldwide AI safety legislation. This year, Britain will host a meeting on worldwide AI risk mitigation. Philosophy Professor Robert Sparrow from Monash University in Australia told reporter that AI regulation would be a global subject with certain challenges, but he does not think one agency will control AI. “We want a culture change in engineering and computer science, but also in government and civil society,” he stated. Guterres praised the British summit but stressed it should be preceded by “serious work”. He aims to select an AI-expert and UN agency head scientist scientific advisory board in the coming days.
