Secretary-General Stresses Need to Keep Pace with AI, Close Technological Knowledge Gap, at Independent Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence Press Conference

We are here to present an extremely important United Nations initiative on artificial intelligence that was decided by the General Assembly in the follow-up to the Pact for the Future—the Independent Scientific Panel on AI. Months ago, I came before you to announce the formation of this Panel comprised of 40 distinguished individuals from around the world.  It is an extraordinary and unique group—the first global, fully independent scientific body dedicated to helping close the AI knowledge gap and assess the real impacts of AI across economies and societies. The Panel is intended to help the world separate fact from fakes, and science from slop. We are looking to them to provide an authoritative reference, a reference point at a moment when a reliable, unbiased understanding of AI has never been more critical. I am pleased to say that they have delivered a down payment on that commitment—in record time. The Panel is releasing their first assessment on the eve of the inaugural AI Dialogue in Geneva. Their assessment goes to every Government. And it is open to the public for everyone to see. Their report is honest about the extraordinary promise of this technology. Used well, AI could be the most powerful engine for development—speeding the world’s progress on everything from health and hunger to learning and climate. But, the Panel is just as clear-eyed about the harm artificial intelligence can cause. Let me draw a key lesson. The more AI advances without shared rules, the less say governments and people will have in the outcome. So, my message to Governments is simple: Do not wait. This is a preliminary report—the Panel will keep working as the technology evolves. And it does not work alone. The science is here. We can no longer say we did not know. What we do with it is now up to all of us.