United Nations chief warns of AI risks after Trump downplays them

UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning on September 16 about the dangers of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, calling for stronger global oversight and coordination. The timing was pointed: just two days earlier, Donald Trump had waved away AI risk concerns during a visit to Ireland, calling them a “hoax” driven by “negative forces.” Two very different readings of the same technology Guterres emphasized that frontline AI developers themselves have flagged potential hazards, and that the international community needs coordinated measures to ensure safe development. His remarks built on months of groundwork, including the launch of the first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance back in July. He wasn’t speaking in a vacuum. On September 7, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk went even further, stating that advanced AI could pose an “existential” risk. Trump’s position sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. During his September 14 remarks in Ireland, the president argued that existing US regulations and strong leadership are more than sufficient to handle whatever AI throws at the world. His framing cast safety advocates not as cautious engineers but as a...