United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that divisions across the world are deepening, calling for stronger international cooperation as leaders gather for the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.
Opening the General Debate on Tuesday, Guterres said conflicts, inequality, climate change and rapid advances in artificial intelligence were interconnected challenges shaped by changing patterns of global power.
He identified three major shifts: the emergence of new centres of state power, the growing influence of corporations and individuals, and the transfer of some decision-making capabilities from humans to machines.
Guterres called for a more interconnected, multipolar international system based on international law and shared rules rather than rival blocs. He also renewed his call for reform of the UN Security Council, describing the absence of permanent African representation as unjust and indefensible.
On artificial intelligence, the UN chief urged governments to establish stronger safeguards and warned that life-and-death decisions should never be handed to machines.
With about 100 days remaining in his tenure, Guterres said he would continue defending the principles of the UN Charter and promoting international efforts to address war, inequality, climate change and technological risks.
Leave a comment