UN pushes for global AI safety rules as risks cross borders

The United Nations is pushing for global coordination on artificial intelligence governance, warning that national action alone is insufficient to manage AI's cross-border risks. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called international cooperation "indispensable" on Wednesday. The UN's efforts stem from the Global Digital Compact adopted in 2024, which established an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance. A preliminary report released July 1 identified risks including misinformation, cyberattacks, and potentially uncontrollable "superintelligence." Guterres urged countries at the forefront of AI development, including the US and China, to establish contact mechanisms and common guardrails to avoid a "race to the bottom." He also proposed an AI Child Safety Pledge and a Global Fund for AI to support developing nations.