Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned at the Human Rights Council in Geneva that artificial intelligence (AI) could become an existential risk to humanity without binding rules, independent oversight, and clear limits. He cautioned that AI systems might become so powerful they could escape human control, including potentially blackmailing developers to avoid shutdowns, and called for “cast iron guarantees” to ensure AI safety and security before it is too late.
Türk highlighted the growing concentration of technological power, stating that “a handful of men has almost unlimited power over AI,” and emphasized that human rights must guide technology development to ensure it benefits humanity, especially regarding jobs, democracy, and environmental concerns.
Expressing alarm over autonomous weapons, the High Commissioner mentioned reports of fully autonomous drones allegedly deployed by Russia, which reportedly killed three Ukrainians. He joined calls for an urgent prohibition on weapons capable of lethal decisions without human involvement.
Addressing global security, Türk expressed deep concern about the proliferation of armed conflicts, noting that more than 60 wars involving at least one country are currently ongoing, the highest level since the end of World War II. He also lamented renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran, highlighting civilian casualties, including those at a wedding in Iran’s Hormozgan province.