Artificial intelligence (AI) has become widely used in professional or personal life, and it is transforming both public and private sectors, ranging from healthcare, education, employment, to transportation or defence. However, collective action is necessary to address the inherent risks of AI. Ensuring its responsible and ethical use in the international sphere has become a global priority.
Although AI systems can facilitate efficiency by automating tasks and reducing operational burdens, they also introduce new and complex vulnerabilities. Tools that enable public institutions and private entities to function more effectively can also be misused to design bioweapons, conduct sophisticated cyberattacks, such as phishing, whaling, denial-of-service (DoS) and man-in-the-middle (MitM) operations, as well as amplify disinformation, and enable authoritarian surveillance.
AI in modern conflicts
In the defence sector, AI is already reshaping the landscape of modern conflict. Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) and Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWs) increasingly operate with limited or no human intervention. These developments raise fundamental ethical, legal and security questions, including those related to accountability and the potential for rapid conflict escalation.
A regulatory void
International policymaking and legal responses are not keeping pace with this technological advancement. As a result, a regulatory void has emerged. The absence of accountability frameworks, early-warning mechanisms, and consistent cooperation among international organizations (IOs) has allowed malicious actors to operate without any meaningful consequence.
In an environment where it is increasingly difficult to attribute cyberattacks to specific actors, where there is a lack of clarity around the definitions of AI and its components, and where incidents affecting governments, civil society, businesses, and communities continue to grow, trust and cooperation among States and international organizations are more essential than ever.
The importance of multilateral cooperation
As António Guterres emphasised at the AI Action Summit in France (February 2025):
“We need concerted efforts to build sustainable digital infrastructure at an unprecedented scale”.
A proactive, inclusive and rules-based approach, grounded in shared responsibility and human rights, must guide the global community’s efforts in governing AI effectively. It is only through robust, coordinated action that the world can harness AI for sustainable development, peace, and international security.
Governing AI: The role of the United Nations and other key actors
The United Nations has taken several steps to foster regulatory approaches to AI, maximising its benefits and effectively managing the associated risks.
– High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence (2023–2024): The UN Secretary-General brought together 39 preeminent AI leaders from 33 countries across all regions and multiple sectors to advise on global AI governance, aligning it with human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals. The Body’s final report outlines a blueprint for addressing AI-related risks and sharing its transformative potential globally.
– The Global Digital Compact: A comprehensive global framework for digital cooperation and governance of artificial intelligence.
– ITU’s AI for Good Initiative: The United Nations’ leading platform on artificial intelligence to solve global challenges. It connects policymakers, researchers, and businesses to promote the use of AI in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
– UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: UNESCO’s first-ever global standard on AI ethics, adopted in 2021, is applicable to all 194 member states of UNESCO. It outlines principles on transparency, accountability, and data governance.
As of 1 January 2025, a new UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET) has been established. A key focus for the Office will be supporting the follow-up and implementation of the Global Digital Compact, including its decisions on AI governance.
Regionally, the European Union has emerged as a global regulatory leader with the adoption of the AI Act, in 2024. The AI Act is the first-ever comprehensive legal framework on AI worldwide, aiming to foster trustworthy AI in Europe.
The OECD AI Principles were adopted in 2019 and updated in 2024. It is the first intergovernmental standard on AI that promotes innovative, trustworthy AI that respects human rights and democratic values. The Principles provide practical and flexible guidance for policymakers and AI actors.
The importance of collective action
It takes a collective effort to ensure the responsible use of AI, close the governance gap, and align AI development with human dignity, peace, and sustainability. In an era of digital globalization, regulating AI at the national level is increasingly challenging, making global coordination essential. To achieve this, the UN promotes multilateral cooperation among its member states, alongside collaboration between international organizations and partnerships between the public and private sectors. This coordinated approach is a prerequisite to building a prosperous future resilient to the threats posed by malicious actors.
Further reading:
AI: Transformative power and governance challenges
UN addresses AI and the Dangers of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems