Secretary-General's remarks at AI Action Summit
Secretary-General's remarks at AI Action Summit [scroll down for all-English version] | Secretary-General
Speaker: António Guterres, Secretary-General
Date: 2025.02.11
Word Count: 341
(편집본)
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let’s get straight to the point. Let’s look at the world around us beyond those who are in this room.
This meeting poses a fundamental question about our relationship with Artificial Intelligence: Are we ready for the future?
The answer is easy. No. We may not even be ready for the present.
In what seems like the blink of an eye, AI has gone from the stuff of science fiction to a powerful force that is transforming our world. Reshaping the way we live, work, and interact. Fueling breakthroughs in education, healthcare, agriculture… But also testing our shared values and rights.
The power of AI carries immense responsibilities. Today, that power sits in the hands of a few. While some companies and some countries are racing ahead with record investments, most developing nations find themselves left out in the cold. This growing concentration of AI capabilities risks deepening geopolitical divides. We must prevent a world of AI "haves" and "have-nots".
We must all work together so that artificial can bridge the gap between developed and developing countries – not widen it. It must accelerate sustainable development – not entrench inequalities.
Excellencies,
The United Nations offers an inclusive, transparent, and effective platform for AI solidarity. And we are working to strengthen that platform. It brings the world together around a shared vision: one where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
We need concerted efforts to build sustainable digital infrastructure at an unprecedented scale. We need to foster talent and train workforces to develop, deploy, and maintain AI systems. I will soon present a report on innovative voluntary financing models and capacity-building initiatives to help all countries harness AI as a force for good.
Finally, we know that AI can be a force for climate action and energy efficiency. But we also know that power-intensive AI systems are already placing an unsustainable strain on our planet. So it is crucial to design AI algorithms and infrastructure that consume less energy and integrate AI into smart grids to optimize power use.