At a powerful global AI summit in India, Antonio Guterres delivered a message that echoed far beyond the conference hall. His warning was clear and urgent: the future of artificial intelligence must not be left to the whims of a few billionaires.
Standing before world leaders, policymakers, and tech executives, he called for collective responsibility. Artificial intelligence, he stressed, is too important, too powerful, and too transformative to be controlled by a small group of wealthy individuals or limited to a handful of countries.
“AI must belong to everyone,” he declared firmly.
A $3 Billion Call for Global Fairness
The UN chief urged technology leaders to support the creation of a $3 billion Global Fund on AI. The goal is simple yet critical — ensure open access to AI technology so that developing nations are not left behind in what is rapidly becoming the defining era of innovation.
According to Guterres, this amount represents less than one percent of the annual revenue of a single major tech company. In his view, it is a small investment to ensure that artificial intelligence becomes a tool for global progress rather than a source of division.
He warned that without urgent action, many countries could be “logged out of the AI age,” deepening existing inequalities between wealthy and developing nations.
AI’s Promise — And Its Peril
Guterres acknowledged that AI holds extraordinary potential. If developed responsibly, it can:
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Accelerate medical breakthroughs
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Expand access to education
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Strengthen food security
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Support climate action and disaster preparedness
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Improve access to public services
But the other side of AI’s power cannot be ignored.
Without proper oversight, AI could deepen inequality, amplify bias, spread misinformation, and fuel harm. Vulnerable communities could suffer the most if powerful systems are deployed without regulation or accountability.
He made one particularly strong point: no child should become a test subject for unregulated artificial intelligence. Safeguards must protect people from exploitation and misuse.
Global Guardrails Are Essential
The United Nations has already taken steps by establishing an AI scientific advisory body to guide governments. However, Guterres emphasized the need for global guardrails — clear international rules that ensure transparency, oversight, and accountability.
He also raised concerns about the environmental cost of AI. As data centers expand, their demand for electricity and water continues to rise. He warned against shifting environmental burdens onto vulnerable communities and called for a transition to clean energy sources to power AI infrastructure.
Tech Leaders at the Table
The summit gathered major figures from the tech world, including Sam Altman of OpenAI and Sundar Pichai of Google. Their presence highlighted the growing influence of private tech companies in shaping the global AI landscape.
Yet Guterres’ message was unmistakable: innovation must serve humanity as a whole — not just corporate interests.
