UN Rights Chief Warns of AI Threat to Humanity

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that advanced artificial intelligence could pose an existential threat to humanity and called for “cast-iron guarantees” to ensure its safety and security.

According to his office, failures involving powerful AI systems could disrupt critical infrastructure and democratic institutions. As an example of the accelerating pace of development, a spokesperson cited a July incident on the Hugging Face platform in which a swarm of OpenAI agents hacked an open-source platform. Türk also warned that a handful of men held “almost unlimited power over AI”.

Türk voiced horror at reports that Russia had used fully autonomous drones in Ukraine, allegedly killing three people in August, and called for an urgent ban on weapons that can take lives without human involvement. Reuters has not independently verified the reports. He also demanded accountability for deaths in US immigration custody, criticized Russia for intensifying its attacks on Ukraine and condemned Iran over its rising number of executions.

With more than 60 wars worldwide involving at least one state – the highest number since World War Two – Türk pledged greater scrutiny of the businesses and economic interests fueling conflicts. He also said the UN human rights office would publish a list later this month of companies operating in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

(Reuters, max)