UN Security Council discusses AI risks of security, misinformation
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The U.N. Security Council held its first formal meeting on artificial intelligence (AI) on Tuesday wherein the Chinese envoy said the technology is "a double-edged sword" while the U.S. warned against the use of AI in spreading misinformation and carrying out malicious cyberoperations.
Governments worldwide are mulling how to mitigate the risks of emerging AI technology, which can reshape economies and the global security arena.
U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly chaired the discussion under the country's July presidency of the agency. "For the United Kingdom, AI should: support freedom and democracy; be consistent with the rule of law and human rights; be safe and predictable by design; and be trusted by the public," commented Cleverly.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that AI has the potential to turbocharge global development and realize human rights, but warned that AI can amplify bias, reinforce discrimination and enable new levels of authoritarian surveillance.
Jack Clark, Co-founder of AI-startup Anthropic, who also spoke at the meeting said that even though AI can bring huge benefits, it also poses threats to peace, security and global stability due to potential for misuse and its unpredictability.
China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun described AI as a double-edged sword, and said that whether the technology is good or evil depends on how mankind uses and regulates it and balances scientific development with security.
Last week, China had published interim measures for managing generative AI (gen AI) services, which will go into effect Aug. 15. The proposed measures include that gen AI services must not generate incitement to subvert state power, overthrow the socialist system, endanger national security and interests.
Zhang Jun added that technology enterprises should clarify the responsible party and avoid developing risky technology which could pose negative consequences. Meanwhile, developing countries should have equal access and use of AI technology, products and services.
The technology should be prevented from turning into becoming a "runaway wild horse," Zhang Jun noted.
Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Jeffrey DeLaurentis, said that automated systems are already helping to grow food more efficiently, predict storm paths and detect diseases in patients. However, AI also has the potential to increase conflict by spreading misinformation and carrying out malicious cyberoperations.
DeLaurentis noted that no member state should use AI to "censor, constrain, repress or disempower people."
Dmitry Polyanskiy, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the U.N., said that the development of autonomous weapons systems can cause security risks because such systems can make decisions about the use of force.
Polyanskiy added that AI can also be used in to create and spread disinformation and "fake news," which undermine trust and cause tensions. "The West has no ethical qualms about knowingly allowing AI to generate misanthropic statements in social networks," Polyanskiy noted.
Meanwhile, Takei Shunsuke, State Minister of Foreign Affairs for Japan said that, "AI should not be a tool for rulers but should be placed under the rule of law."
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