AI Could Pose Existential Risk to Humanity, UN Rights Chief Warns

United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk has issued a strong warning about the potential dangers of advanced artificial intelligence, saying the technology could eventually pose an “existential risk to humanity” if adequate safeguards are not established in time.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, Turk called for urgent international action to ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed safely. He stressed that governments, technology companies and countries involved in AI-related supply chains must work together to establish strict limits before the technology advances beyond effective human control.

“I share the concerns of industry insiders that advanced AI could pose an existential risk to humanity,” Turk said, underlining the seriousness of the potential threat. He urged the international community to put strong safety and security guarantees in place, warning that delaying action could make it increasingly difficult to manage the risks associated with powerful AI systems.

Turk also raised concerns about the concentration of influence within the rapidly expanding AI industry. Without naming specific individuals, he said a small number of people currently possess an extraordinary level of power over the development and direction of artificial intelligence. Major technology companies involved in the field include Meta, Anthropic, OpenAI and Google.

The UN official argued that countries hosting major AI companies and those involved in the technology’s supply chains should reach common agreements on clearly defined “red lines”. Such measures, he suggested, could help prevent AI development from crossing boundaries that may create serious risks to human rights, safety and global security.

Turk’s concerns echo warnings previously made by several prominent figures in the technology industry. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, among others, has acknowledged the possibility that increasingly capable AI systems could create serious long-term risks if they are not properly managed.

The United Nations has been pushing for greater international cooperation on AI governance. It has called for harmonised global rules aimed at reducing potential dangers and held its first international meeting focused on AI governance in July.

Turk’s warning adds to growing calls for governments and technology companies to act collectively and establish robust safeguards as artificial intelligence continues to develop at a rapid pace.