SHANGHAI, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need for expanded international supervision of artificial intelligence during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. He highlighted that the development of AI technologies shaping humanity’s future must involve input from all nations, not just a select few governments and corporations. Guterres outlined AI as a significant opportunity for advancements in healthcare, education, food security, and employment. He also cautioned that inadequate international cooperation could exacerbate disparities in income, access, security, and essential services.
The secretary-general pointed out that one-third of the global population remains offline while computing resources, expertise, and investments remain concentrated in a limited number of markets. He stressed that developing countries require affordable computing solutions, trustworthy data, local language support, technical education, and reliable digital infrastructure. These resources would enable governments and researchers to develop systems tailored to national needs and public services. Over 20 countries, including China, have nominated centers to participate in a UN-supported network aimed at enhancing AI capabilities across different regions and income levels.
Guterres announced plans to soon propose a Global Fund for AI and called on governments to back this initiative. He outlined three main priorities: increasing capacity in developing nations, establishing shared safety standards, and reducing environmental impacts. The UN Secretary-General advocated for standardized testing and risk management protocols rooted in international law and human rights protections. He emphasized that people must maintain control over critical decisions affecting life and safety, regardless of where AI is implemented in security, health, or public safety sectors.
International standards and child protection
Child safety was a key focus of Guterres’ speech. He particularly stressed the importance of systems used by children. He asserted that no AI technology should be accessible to children before developers can demonstrate its safety. His comments placed responsibility on governments and technology firms to implement safeguards before products are introduced into schools, homes, or public services. He also connected effective AI governance with equitable participation, emphasizing that every nation should have a voice when establishing international regulations.
The environmental footprint of artificial intelligence was another major theme in Guterres’ Shanghai address. He urged leading AI companies to disclose the energy consumption, water usage, and emissions associated with their systems. He called for these companies to transition to renewable energy sources by 2030 and to enhance efficiency in their data centers. Governments were encouraged to incorporate clean energy solutions for AI infrastructure into national energy and climate strategies. Such measures would align digital growth with existing environmental commitments.
Building capacity and promoting sustainable AI
These proposals come amid the United Nations’s efforts to expand its role in global AI regulation. Member states established a Global Dialogue on AI Governance to facilitate open discussions among governments, industry leaders, researchers, and civil society. The UN has also supported scientific collaboration and capacity development initiatives for nations with limited technical resources. Guterres emphasized that governance frameworks must evolve swiftly to keep pace with technological advancements while safeguarding human oversight, adhering to international law, and ensuring public accountability. He stated that technology should serve people, not the other way around.
During the conference, Guterres framed access, safety, and sustainability as interconnected aspects of a shared global challenge. He noted that AI has the potential to advance progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals by improving health, education, agriculture, and public services. The true measure of success, he said, is whether AI reduces inequality or deepens existing divisions. He called on governments and corporations to collaborate on establishing rules, investing in infrastructure, and sharing resources so that artificial intelligence benefits all regions and communities.