World Leaders Gather in New York as AI Takes Center Stage at UN Assembly

Nearly 130 world leaders are gathering in New York for the UN General Assembly's 81st session this week, with artificial intelligence emerging as a foremost global concern amid rapid development and regulatory gaps. The opening comes as wars, climate change, and rising costs dominate discussions, with AI's swift evolution and unknowns placing it at the forefront of anxieties. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged perseverance, writing on X that "we cannot give up the fight for a better world for all," as speculation grows over his successor. Alongside main sessions, bilateral meetings occur, including US President Donald Trump scheduled to meet leaders of France, Britain, and Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived from Saint-Pierre and Miquelon after meeting Canada's premier, with plans to see Ukraine's president. Notable absences include China's Xi Jinping, Russia's Putin, and India's Modi, while Sweden is represented by Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.