US Secretary Blinken addresses UN Security Council on AI

The United Nations Security Council recently convened a significant meeting to address the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on global security and development, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivering key remarks about international cooperation and regulation in the AI era.

Current state of AI benefits: AI technology is demonstrating remarkable potential across multiple sectors critical to human advancement and sustainable development.

• Scientists are leveraging AI to develop new treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• AI models are improving natural disaster predictions, enhancing community preparedness
• The technology is accelerating progress on approximately 80% of UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Research teams are using AI to identify novel crystal structures for advanced electric vehicle batteries

Security challenges and risks: The misuse of AI presents significant threats to international peace and security that require immediate attention.

• Hackers can deploy AI to make cyberattacks more destructive and harder to trace
• Authoritarian governments are utilizing AI-powered surveillance to target journalists and dissidents
• AI-enabled weapon systems could potentially trigger accidental conflicts if algorithms malfunction
• State and non-state actors are increasingly using AI to manipulate public opinion and geopolitical narratives

U.S. leadership initiatives: The United States has taken several concrete steps to promote responsible AI development and implementation.

• Secured commitments from leading American tech companies to implement safety measures like watermarks for AI-generated content
• Collaborated with Japan and G7 partners to establish a global code of conduct for AI developers
• Launched an international network of AI safety institutes to create shared testing and evaluation benchmarks
• Led efforts resulting in the first standalone UN General Assembly Resolution on AI, adopted by consensus

International cooperation: Multiple collaborative efforts are underway to establish global AI governance frameworks.

• The U.S. and eleven other nations signed the first international AI treaty focusing on human rights and democracy
• Nearly 60 governments have committed to guidelines for military AI applications
• Presidents Biden and Xi jointly affirmed that humans should maintain exclusive control over nuclear weapons decisions
• The U.S. and Morocco established a UN group for sharing AI best practices among member states

Moving forward and challenges: A clear agenda is emerging for addressing future AI developments and risks.

• Nations with advanced tech sectors must strengthen security standards
• The international community needs unified opposition to AI misuse
• The UN Security Council must adapt to address evolving AI risks just as it has with other security threats
• Continued collaboration with developers, business leaders, and civil society remains essential

Critical considerations: While progress has been made in establishing international frameworks for AI governance, the rapid pace of technological advancement demands ongoing vigilance and adaptation of regulatory approaches to ensure AI remains a force for global progress rather than a source of instability.