Addis Ababa, September 17, 2026 (FMC) — UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for genuine international cooperation and a coordinated global effort to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) develops in a safe, transparent and accountable manner, with human dignity at the center.
Guterres said AI holds enormous potential, while warning that its rapid development is advancing faster than the world’s understanding of the risks associated with the technology.
He noted that a growing number of people involved in developing AI are raising concerns over the pace of its advancement and urged the international community not to ignore those concerns.
“We can’t afford to ignore their concerns,” Guterres said, stressing the need for genuine international cooperation and coordinated global action to address the emerging risks.
He called for AI to be developed and used in ways that uphold safety, transparency and accountability while placing human dignity at the center.
His remarks come amid growing international attention to the opportunities and risks associated with rapidly advancing artificial intelligence.