Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, warned today at the Davos Forum about the risks associated with the current development of artificial intelligence in the hands of technology companies “who seek profit with reckless indifference to human rights.”

These companies also do not take into account the privacy of individuals or the social impact of these advances, said Guterres, who said in a speech to a forum of political, economic and business leaders that “every new improvement in generative AI “Increases the risk of serious unintended consequences.”

Guterres went so far as to point out that the unlimited development of artificial intelligence represents one of the “existential threats” of the modern world, along with global warming, after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned in a recent report that the technology would lead to increased inequality.

However, the UN chief emphasized that artificial intelligence also has potential assistance in sustainable developmentor in developing management systems adapted to today’s world and capable of creating multi-party networks.

He also recalled that the UN advisory body on artificial intelligence has issued preliminary recommendations on its use. “to take advantage of the benefits of this incredible technology while mitigating its risks.”

“We urgently need governments to work together with technology companies to create risk management networks for ongoing AI developments, some networks that monitor and control future damage,” he said.

He also called for greater access by developing countries to this new technology. “so that they can benefit from their enormous potential, because we need to close the digital divide, not widen it.”

Regarding the other major issue mentioned at the beginning of his speech, climate change, the Secretary-General insisted on accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources and assured that “The transition away from fossil fuels is necessary and inevitable.”

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Guterres attacked the fossil fuel industry in this sense: who, he said, “has just launched another multi-billion dollar campaign to destroy progress and keep oil and gas flowing indefinitely.”

The Secretary-General warned that at current rates of emissions the planet Average global temperature is expected to rise by three degrees relative to pre-industrial levels, which is much higher than the danger limit (1.5 degrees) provided for in the Paris Agreement.

Given the enormous challenges posed by issues such as artificial intelligence and climate change, Guterres said: The world still does not have a global strategy to counter them.due to geopolitical differences.

Because of the lack of leadership, “it is not strange that people from all over the world “They are losing faith in governments, institutions and financial and economic systems,” Guterres complained at the forum, whose motto this year is “Restoring Trust.”

To alleviate this crisis of confidence, Guterres today proposed “build a new global multipolar orderwith new opportunities for leadership, with balance and fairness in international relations.”

Journalist Florencia Angeles reported on Aristegui en Vivo from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the central theme is “Restoring Trust” and addressing geopolitical issues such as the war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East.

See his report:

(according to information from EFE and Aristegui News)