NEW YORK, NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Khalilur Rahman, who presides over the 81st United Nations General Assembly, issued a warning Tuesday that the UN is trailing behind developments in artificial intelligence. He emphasized that AI is already operating within critical systems impacting daily life worldwide. Rahman called for safeguards rooted in scientific understanding to safeguard the public interest while facilitating ongoing innovation. His comments marked the opening of the General Debate at United Nations headquarters in New York. He linked effective AI regulation to broader efforts aimed at making the organization more adaptable to global change.
Rahman stressed the importance of governments maintaining a central role in international discussions concerning AI regulation and oversight. He also pointed out that governments alone do not possess all the necessary expertise, technology, capital, or influence to fully address the issue. Significant knowledge and technical resources are already held by businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society, he noted. Rahman called on the United Nations to actively engage with those developing and implementing artificial intelligence. His appeal aimed to broaden the pool of expertise available to policymakers as AI becomes increasingly integrated into economies and vital infrastructure.
The UNGA president stated that artificial intelligence is now embedded in water systems, electricity networks, health records, economies, and military operations. This level of integration distinguishes AI from earlier international challenges related to emerging technologies, he explained. Rahman also issued a warning against an arms race for dominance over artificial intelligence. He emphasized the need for governments to establish prudent and scientifically supported guardrails. At the same time, he argued that international AI governance must leave space for innovation and acknowledge the potential of technology to advance human progress.
UN broadens its global AI governance structure
The United Nations has already put new mechanisms in place for international dialogue on artificial intelligence. Under Resolution 79/325, the General Assembly established the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. The Global Dialogue held its inaugural session in Geneva on July 6 and 7, 2026. It offers a platform for governments and stakeholders to debate key issues regarding AI regulation. The 40-member scientific panel supplies independent evidence on AI opportunities, risks, and impacts to inform international policy discussions.
Rahman also addressed multilateral AI governance during a speech in New York on September 10, prior to the start of the General Debate. He highlighted the core question of how governments and stakeholders will regulate technologies already transforming societies. On September 20, Rahman met with International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. Their discussions covered collaboration between the General Assembly and the ITU on AI governance, challenges posed by advanced AI, and the importance of continued industry engagement as international dialogues evolve.
AI discussions are now integrated into UN reform efforts
Rahman positioned artificial intelligence within a wider push for a more open and inclusive United Nations. He emphasized that while member states and the UN Secretariat are vital to the organization’s work, they cannot encompass all necessary capabilities. His remarks called for increased engagement with businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society where relevant expertise exists. These comments were made during the UN General Assembly’s high-level week in New York, with the 81st session’s General Debate starting on September 22 and concluding on September 28.
Rahman identified AI governance as an area requiring the UN to respond more swiftly to technological advances. He referenced previous international initiatives on nuclear non-proliferation, ozone protection, and human cloning as examples of the UN’s involvement in tackling major global issues. His speech underscored the importance of establishing “prudent and reliable guardrails” supported by scientific evidence and extensive expertise. He reiterated that governments should play a central role, combining leadership with technical input from organizations actively developing, studying, and utilizing artificial intelligence.