AI leaders urge UN to establish global safeguards against uncontrolled technology

The heads of major AI firms made an unprecedented plea to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, calling for coordinated global action to prevent the technology from spiralling beyond human control. Dario Amodei, chief executive of Anthropic, warned that poorly managed artificial intelligence could represent an existential threat to humanity, while Sam Altman of OpenAI cautioned that "we could lose control of the future to AI."

Both executives stressed the necessity of establishing international safeguards through the UN to ensure that AI development does not advance unchecked. They emphasised that regulatory frameworks must be put in place before the technology becomes too powerful to govern effectively, and urged nations to work collectively on the issue rather than pursuing isolated national approaches.

The tech leaders also highlighted concerns about the concentration of AI power, calling for measures to prevent any single company or nation from monopolising the technology. Despite their warnings about potential risks, they acknowledged AI's transformative benefits for humanity, with Altman describing the technology as a means of "giving people more power over their own lives."

Their testimony underscores growing tensions within the technology sector between those advocating for rapid AI advancement and those warning that adequate safeguards must be implemented alongside development. The appeal comes as governments worldwide grapple with how to regulate artificial intelligence without stifling innovation or ceding technological advantage to rival nations.