Sam Altman to brief UN Security Council on AI risks as global governance push intensifies

The United Nations Security Council is convening an open briefing on artificial intelligence and international security, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman set to address the world’s most powerful diplomatic body on September 23, 2026. The session, scheduled for 11:00 a.m. New York time, coincides with the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, giving it a stage that few tech executives ever get. France holds the provisional presidency of the Security Council for the session, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot will chair the meeting. The focus is squarely on the risks of AI misuse and the imperative for safe, responsible development backed by international coordination. What’s actually on the table This is an open briefing, meaning no binding resolutions are expected to come out of it. The meeting marks the third time the Security Council has convened an open session specifically on AI, following earlier discussions in July 2023 and December 2024. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has been direct on this point, arguing that national-level efforts to manage AI risks are simply not enough without parallel global coordination. Amodei’s essay and the questi...