GENEVA: Looks like artificial intelligence has learnt to sprint, while regulation is still tying its shoelaces. That growing imbalance prompted United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call for globally coordinated AI governance, warning that the technology is advancing faster than governments, regulators and even its creators can keep up.
Speaking at the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, Guterres said artificial intelligence is already reshaping economies, labour markets, elections and global security, making international cooperation on oversight no longer optional but increasingly necessary.
While acknowledging AI’s enormous potential to accelerate innovation and economic growth, Guterres cautioned that unchecked deployment could expose societies to serious risks, particularly children and other vulnerable groups.
“Innovation needs guardrails,” he said, arguing that technologies capable of transforming societies at such scale require robust governance frameworks rather than reactive regulation.
The two-day summit marks the United Nations’ first government-level forum dedicated exclusively to AI governance. Rather than negotiating a binding global treaty, the dialogue seeks to bring together policymakers, scientists, industry leaders and civil society to explore shared approaches that can balance responsible innovation with effective risk management.
A key focus of the discussions is a landmark assessment prepared by a 40-member independent scientific panel backed by the United Nations. Described by the organisation as the first global independent scientific review of artificial intelligence, the report is expected to provide an evidence-based foundation for future international AI policymaking.
The findings presented in Geneva will feed into a more comprehensive report scheduled for release next year, as governments continue debating how best to regulate rapidly evolving AI technologies without stifling innovation.
The United Nations also confirmed that momentum on the issue will continue beyond Geneva, with a second Global Dialogue on AI Governance already planned for New York in 2027.
As AI capabilities expand at breakneck speed, the discussions signal a growing international consensus that while the technology may not recognise borders, its governance will increasingly require countries to work across them.
