SHANGHAI, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need for broader international oversight of artificial intelligence during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference held in Shanghai. He stressed that the technology shaping humanity’s future must include all countries, not just a select few governments and corporations. Guterres highlighted AI as a significant opportunity for advancements in medicine, education, food systems, and employment. However, he also cautioned that insufficient international cooperation could exacerbate disparities in income, opportunities, security, and access to vital services.
The secretary-general pointed out that one-third of the global population remains offline, while computing resources, specialized expertise, and investments are concentrated in limited markets. He called for developing countries to have access to affordable computing, trustworthy data, local languages, technical training, and reliable digital infrastructure. These resources would enable governments and researchers to develop systems tailored to national needs and public services. Over 20 nations, including China, have proposed centers for a UN-supported network aimed at boosting AI capacity across regions and income levels.
Guterres announced plans to soon present recommendations for a Global Fund for AI and urged governments to endorse this initiative. He outlined three key priorities: enhancing capacities in developing nations, establishing common safety standards, and reducing environmental impacts. The UN leader advocated for standardized testing and risk management approaches grounded in international law and human rights protections. He emphasized that humans must retain authority over critical decisions involving life and death, regardless of AI deployment in security, healthcare, or public safety sectors.
International standards and child protection
Child safety was another major focus of Guterres’s speech. He concentrated on AI systems used by children, asserting that no AI product should reach a child’s hands before developers can demonstrate its safety. His comments placed a burden on governments and technology companies to establish safeguards prior to releasing products into schools, homes, or public spaces. He also linked effective AI governance to equitable participation, emphasizing that every nation must have a voice when formulating international regulations.
The environmental footprint of AI was also prominently addressed in the Shanghai speech. Guterres urged leading AI firms to disclose their systems’ energy consumption, water usage, and emissions. He called on them to rely on renewable energy sources by 2030 and to enhance efficiency in data centers. Governments were encouraged to incorporate clean energy solutions for AI infrastructure into their national energy and climate strategies. These steps would align digital expansion with existing environmental commitments.
Building capacity and advancing sustainable AI
These initiatives coincide with the United Nations expanding its involvement in global AI governance. Member states established a Global Dialogue on AI Governance to facilitate open discussions among governments, industry leaders, researchers, and civil society. The UN has also promoted international scientific collaboration and capacity development for countries with limited technological resources. Guterres emphasized that governance frameworks must keep pace with rapid technological advances while safeguarding human oversight, adherence to international law, and accountability. He underscored that technology should serve people, not dominate them.
During the conference, Guterres presented access, safety, and sustainability as interconnected elements of a shared global challenge. He suggested that AI could help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by improving healthcare, education, agriculture, and public services. The ultimate measure of success, he said, is whether AI reduces inequality or simply reinforces existing divisions. He called on governments and corporations to collaborate on establishing rules, making investments, and building infrastructure to ensure AI benefits all regions of the world.