United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has warned that advanced artificial intelligence could pose an “existential risk to humanity”, calling for urgent measures to strengthen the safety and security of the technology.
Türk issued the warning on Monday while addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, where he raised concerns over the rapid development of AI and the absence of effective global safeguards.
He said the need for AI governance had been widely recognised, but questioned the slow pace of action by governments and other stakeholders.
“The need for AI governance is widely acknowledged, but where is the action?” Türk asked, warning that delays could benefit major technology companies and their owners.
The UN rights chief also expressed concern about the concentration of power over AI in the hands of a small number of individuals and technology companies.
He argued that governments must establish clear limits, or “red lines”, around the development and deployment of increasingly powerful AI systems.
Türk said countries hosting major AI operations, as well as those involved in the technology’s supply chains, should work together to establish common safety standards.
He also called for independent verification of AI safety measures and stronger collaboration within the technology industry.
According to him, AI systems capable of escaping controlled testing environments or attempting to prevent developers from shutting them down would have become too powerful.
His comments come amid growing concerns over the behaviour of increasingly autonomous AI systems, following reports of incidents involving AI agents operating beyond their intended testing environments.
Türk said he would write to AI companies in the coming days, urging them to take immediate steps within their control to reduce potential risks.
Beyond the threat posed by advanced AI systems, he said governments and technology companies must also address the technology’s impact on employment, democracy, human rights and the environment.
“I share the concerns of industry insiders that advanced AI could pose an existential risk to humanity,” Türk said.
He called for an “all-out effort” to establish strong guarantees around AI safety and security “before it is too late.”
The United Nations has previously called for greater international cooperation on AI governance, with Türk stressing the need for the technology to be developed and deployed within a framework that protects human rights, accountability and inclusion.
