Tech rivalry without safeguards “could threaten humanity’s existence,” deputy UN envoy Dmitry Polyansky has warned
The rapid development of artificial intelligence and intensifying global rivalry in the field pose an existential threat to humanity, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, has warned.
Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on AI on Wednesday, Polyansky called for safeguards and regulations as more countries push forward with the technology.
”An AI race – the ambition to outpace geopolitical rivals by rapidly developing a technology that is not fully understood or controlled, without sufficient AI safety measures for all stakeholders – could, much like an arms race, endanger humanity’s very existence,” he said. “These technologies pose significant risks and are becoming a new factor that could affect the stability of the entire system of international relations.”
Polyansky warned that AI tools could sway public opinion and election results by spreading news and fake information on social media, as well as disrupting critical infrastructure.
Polyansky said it is premature to raise the issue at the Security Council, but urged debate in inclusive forums, adding that Russia would support a UN-led role in AI governance.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed the concerns at the briefing, warning that while AI can help tackle food insecurity, de-mining, and conflict prevention, “without guardrails, it can also be weaponized.” He noted that the General Assembly created two new AI bodies last month – a global forum and an expert panel – to coordinate governance and cooperation.
ChatGPT’s debut three years ago sparked an AI boom, with investors pouring billions into the sector. Public filings show Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet spent tens of billions of dollars this year and plan to invest over $400 billion by 2026. Experts warn the surge could lead to a bubble and trigger a financial crisis, while others say the technology itself poses existential risks – from engineered pandemics to rogue AIs – without strict safeguards.
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