By Olivia Le Poidevin
GENEVA, July 6 (Reuters) – The United Nations secretary general on Monday warned that artificial intelligence is developing faster than anyone can keep up, urging the need for globally harmonised rules to reduce potential risks – especially to children.
“A technology that can reshape economies, transform the world of work, sway elections and tilt the balance of security is being deployed faster than anyone – including the people building it – can keep up,” Antonio Guterres told delegates at the first-ever government-level global dialogue on AI in Geneva.
“Innovation needs guardrails.… If AI is to be powerful, it must be governed,” Guterres told delegates.
The purpose of the two-day inaugural U.N. Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva is not to forge a treaty, but rather to discuss how to set rules to mitigate the potential harms of AI as well as take advantage of its opportunities.
Delegates will consider a report by a UN-backed independent scientific panel of 40 experts, who will present their findings from the first global, independent scientific assessment of AI.
A more comprehensive report is planned next year, alongside a second global meeting in New York.
(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin, Editing by Miranda Murray)
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