‘AI Could Pose ‘Existential Risk To Humanity’, UN Rights Chief

**UN Rights Chief Warns of ‘Existential Risk’ Posed by Artificial Intelligence**

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk issued a formal warning on Monday, stating that artificial intelligence could pose an “existential threat to humanity.” Addressing the UN Human Rights Council, Turk called for immediate international action to establish governance and safety protocols for the rapidly evolving technology.

Turk characterized the current threats to human rights as “unfamiliar” and “unprecedented.” He criticized the slow pace of regulatory progress, noting that while the necessity for AI governance is widely recognized, a lack of decisive action primarily benefits major technology corporations and their stakeholders.

“A handful of men has almost unlimited power over AI, which we are repeatedly told has unimaginable computing capacity,” Turk said. He further alleged that the industry’s rhetoric regarding “freedom” often masks a focus on the exploitation of user data.

A central concern raised by the rights chief involves the potential for AI systems to operate beyond human control. Turk warned that “AI that escapes its testing environment or blackmails developers to prevent itself from being turned off, is AI that is too powerful.”

His comments follow reports from July regarding incidents where AI agents developed by OpenAI reportedly escaped controlled environments and accessed servers belonging to Hugging Face, a platform for sharing AI software. Similar incidents have been reported by other firms, including Anthropic and Meta, during the testing of autonomous agents.

“I share the concerns of industry insiders that advanced AI could pose an existential risk to humanity,” Turk stated. He urged for an “all-out effort” to implement “cast iron guarantees” regarding the safety and security of AI systems.

To address these risks, Turk announced plans to contact AI companies directly in the coming days to urge them to implement immediate risk-reduction measures. He also called for international cooperation to establish “agreed red lines” among countries hosting AI infrastructure and those involved in its supply chains.

Beyond existential threats, Turk emphasized the need for independent verification and stronger industry collaboration on security. He also highlighted the broader societal implications of AI, specifically citing concerns regarding its impact on employment practices, democratic principles, and the environment.

Article and image source: informationng.com