NEW YORK, NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Khalilur Rahman, who presides over the 81st United Nations General Assembly, issued a warning on Tuesday that the UN is lagging behind rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. He emphasized that AI already influences vital systems that impact daily life across the globe. Rahman called for safeguards grounded in scientific understanding to safeguard public interests while fostering ongoing innovation. His statement marked the opening of the General Debate at the United Nations headquarters in New York. He connected the need for effective AI regulation with broader efforts to enhance the organization’s responsiveness to global shifts.
Rahman underscored that governments must stay at the forefront of international dialogue concerning AI regulation and oversight. Additionally, he pointed out that governments alone do not possess all the necessary expertise, technology, capital, or influence to resolve this issue. Instead, he highlighted the substantial knowledge and technical capabilities already held by businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society. Rahman encouraged the United Nations to actively involve those developing and deploying AI technologies. His appeal aimed to broaden the pool of expertise accessible to policymakers, especially as AI systems become more deeply embedded in economies and public infrastructure.
The UNGA president stated that artificial intelligence is presently integrated into water systems, electricity networks, health records, economies, and military operations. This level of integration sets AI apart from earlier international challenges involving emerging technologies, he explained. Moreover, Rahman warned against an emerging arms race centered on AI control. He emphasized that governments need to establish cautious and scientifically based guardrails. Simultaneously, he argued that international governance of AI should leave room for innovation and acknowledge the potential of technology to support human development.
UN broadens its framework for global AI regulation
The United Nations has established new mechanisms to facilitate international dialogue on artificial intelligence. Under Resolution 79/325, the General Assembly set up the Global Dialogue on AI Governance alongside the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. The Global Dialogue held its inaugural session in Geneva on July 6 and 7, 2026, providing a platform for governments and key stakeholders to discuss pressing issues related to AI regulation. The scientific panel, composed of 40 members, supplies independent evidence regarding AI opportunities, risks, and impacts for global policy discussions.
Rahman also addressed multilateral AI governance in New York on September 10, ahead of the start of the General Debate. He highlighted that the core concern lies in how governments and other actors will oversee technologies already transforming societies. On September 20, Rahman met with International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. Their conversations covered cooperation between the General Assembly and the ITU regarding AI governance, as well as the challenges posed by advanced AI systems. They also emphasized the importance of maintaining industry engagement as international discussions progress.
AI discussions integrate into broader UN reform efforts
Rahman placed artificial intelligence within a larger context of reform aimed at making the United Nations more open and inclusive. He noted that while member states and the UN Secretariat are vital to the organization’s operations, they cannot fulfill all necessary functions alone. His remarks advocated for increased collaboration with businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society where relevant expertise resides. These comments emerged during the UN General Assembly’s high-level week in New York, with the 81st session’s General Debate beginning on September 22 and concluding on September 28.
Rahman presented AI governance as a domain where the United Nations must accelerate its response to technological change. He cited historical efforts such as nuclear non-proliferation, ozone layer protection, and human cloning as examples of UN engagement with global issues. His speech called for the establishment of prudent and dependable guardrails supported by scientific evidence and broad expertise. He stressed that governments should retain leadership in the process, combining authoritative oversight with technical input from institutions actively involved in AI development, research, and application.
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