SHANGHAI, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need for expanded international oversight of artificial intelligence during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. He stressed that the development of technology shaping humanity’s future must incorporate all nations, rather than just a select few governments and corporations. Guterres highlighted AI’s potential benefits for healthcare, education, food security, and employment, while warning that inadequate global cooperation could exacerbate disparities in income, opportunity, security, and access to critical services.
The secretary-general noted that one-third of the world’s population remains offline, with computing capabilities, specialized knowledge, and investments heavily concentrated in limited markets. He pointed out that developing nations require affordable computing resources, 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 needs and public services. Over 20 countries, including China, have nominated centers to a UN-supported network aimed at enhancing AI capacity across different regions and income groups.
Guterres announced plans to soon introduce recommendations for a Global Fund for AI and called on governments to back this initiative. He outlined three main priorities: increasing capacity in developing countries, establishing unified safety standards, and reducing environmental impacts. The UN leader emphasized the importance of international law and human rights-based approaches to testing and managing risks. He insisted that individuals must maintain control over critical decisions, whether in security, health, or public safety, regardless of where AI applications are implemented.
Global standards and children’s safety
Child safety was another key focus in Guterres’ speech. He underscored that AI systems intended for children should not be accessible until developers can demonstrate their safety. His comments placed responsibility on governments and technology firms to implement safeguards before products reach schools, homes, or public institutions. Guterres also linked effective AI governance to equitable participation, asserting that every nation must have a voice when shaping international regulations.
The environmental footprint of AI was also prominently addressed. Guterres urged leading AI corporations to disclose the energy consumption, water use, and emissions associated with their systems. He called for these companies to transition to renewable energy sources by 2030 and to improve efficiency across data centers. Governments should incorporate clean energy solutions for AI infrastructure into their national energy and climate strategies, he added. These steps would align digital growth with existing environmental commitments.
Building capacity and promoting greener AI
These proposals 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 fostered scientific collaboration and capacity-building efforts for countries with limited technological resources. Guterres emphasized that governance frameworks must keep pace with rapid technological advances while safeguarding human oversight, international law, and accountability. He reiterated that technology should serve humanity, not dominate it.
During the conference, Guterres framed access, safety, and sustainability as interconnected elements of a shared global challenge. He expressed that AI could advance the Sustainable Development Goals by improving health, education, agriculture, and public services. The ultimate test, he said, is whether AI reduces inequality or deepens existing divisions. He urged governments and corporations to collaborate on establishing rules, investing in infrastructure, and sharing resources so that artificial intelligence benefits people across all regions.