UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has called for urgent international action to establish firm safeguards around rapidly advancing artificial intelligence systems.
Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, Türk warned that power over AI was becoming concentrated in the hands of a small number of people.
Call for stronger safeguards
“I share the concerns expressed by people within the industry that advanced AI could pose an existential threat to humanity,” Türk said ahead of the start of his second term next month.
“I am calling today for a broad effort to put strong AI safety safeguards in place before it is too late.”
Without naming individuals, Türk warned that a handful of people now hold “near-unlimited power over AI”. Leading companies in the sector include Meta, Anthropic, OpenAI and Google.
Countries urged to agree red lines
“At a minimum, we need countries that host AI companies and those involved in their supply chains to come together around agreed red lines,” he said.
Türk’s remarks echo previous warnings from senior figures in the technology industry about the potential existential risks posed by AI, including OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman.
Source: CNA
