SHANGHAI, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need for wider international oversight of artificial intelligence during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference held in Shanghai. He stated that the technologies shaping humanity’s future must incorporate input from all nations, rather than being controlled by a select few governments and corporations. Guterres highlighted AI’s potential benefits for sectors such as healthcare, education, food supply, and employment. However, he also cautioned that insufficient global cooperation could exacerbate disparities in income, opportunities, security, and access to vital services.
The secretary-general pointed out that approximately one-third of the global population remains offline, while computing resources, specialized expertise, and investments are concentrated in limited markets. He stressed that developing nations require affordable computing solutions, trustworthy data, local language support, technical training, and reliable digital infrastructure. These resources are essential for governments and researchers to develop systems tailored to their specific national needs and public services. Over 20 countries, including China, have proposed establishing centers for a UN-supported network aimed at enhancing AI capacity across different regions and income brackets.
Guterres announced his intention to soon present recommendations for the creation of a Global Fund for AI and called on governments to endorse this initiative. He outlined three main priorities: strengthening capabilities in developing countries, establishing shared safety standards, and reducing environmental impacts. The UN Secretary-General advocated for unified testing and risk management approaches rooted in international law and human rights. He emphasized that individuals must maintain control over critical decisions, especially those related to security, health, or public safety, regardless of where AI is deployed.
Global benchmarks and child protection
Child safety was a key aspect of Guterres’ address. He specifically highlighted the importance of safeguarding systems used by children. He asserted that no AI application should reach a child’s hands before developers can demonstrate its safety. His remarks placed responsibility on governments and technology firms to implement safeguards before products are introduced into schools, homes, or public services. Additionally, he linked effective AI governance to equitable participation, stressing that every nation must have a voice when formulating international rules.
The environmental footprint of AI also received significant attention in the Shanghai speech. Guterres urged leading AI companies to disclose the energy consumption, water use, and emissions associated with their systems. He challenged them to operate on renewable energy sources by 2030 and to enhance efficiency across data centers. Governments, he added, should incorporate clean energy solutions for AI infrastructure into their national energy and climate strategies. These actions would align digital advancement with existing environmental commitments.
Building capacity and promoting sustainable AI
These initiatives coincide with the United Nations’s expanding role in global AI regulation. Member states established a Global Dialogue on AI Governance to facilitate open exchanges among governments, industry leaders, researchers, and civil society. The UN has also fostered scientific collaboration and capacity development, especially for countries with limited technological resources. Guterres underscored that governance frameworks must keep pace with rapid technological progress while safeguarding human oversight, international law, and accountability. He reiterated that technology should serve people, not dominate them.
During the conference, Guterres emphasized that access, safety, and sustainability are interconnected aspects of the same worldwide challenge. He expressed that AI could advance progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals by improving health, education, agriculture, and public services. The ultimate measure, he said, is whether the technology helps reduce inequality or simply entrenches existing divisions. He called on governments and corporations to collaborate on establishing rules, investing, and building infrastructure to ensure artificial intelligence benefits all regions globally.