UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an international ban on lethal autonomous weapon systems, labeling them as "morally repugnant" and "politically unacceptable." These systems, which he refers to as "killer robots," are capable of independently selecting and engaging targets and taking lives without human control or judgment. Guterres emphasized that decisions concerning human life must remain exclusively within the human domain, not be delegated to machines.
Speaking at the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance, Guterres highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue before atrocities occur. He noted that despite the focus on civilian AI, the same models and chips are appearing on battlefields. The UN chief has repeatedly stressed that such systems have no place in the world and has urged Member States to establish clear regulations and prohibitions, aiming for a legally binding agreement by 2026.
Guterres also outlined broader concerns regarding AI, including the significant private investment in AI infrastructure, which approached half a trillion dollars last year, contrasting with a "rounding error" in public investment for developing countries. He warned against the digital divide becoming an "AI divide." His priorities for AI governance include safety, establishing "red lines" such as non-negotiable human rights, building capacity, and ensuring transparency. He also called for an AI Child Safety Pledge and a Global Fund for AI to support skills, data, and affordable computing power globally. Furthermore, he launched the AI Environmental Transparency Initiative, urging major AI companies to disclose their systems' carbon, water, and land footprints and commit to renewable energy by 2030.
