NEW YORK, NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Khalilur Rahman, who presides over the 81st United Nations General Assembly, issued a warning Tuesday from New York that the organization is lagging behind technological progress in artificial intelligence. He emphasized that AI now influences crucial systems impacting daily life on a global scale. Rahman advocated for safeguards grounded in scientific understanding that safeguard public interests while still fostering innovation. His comments marked the opening of the General Debate at UN headquarters in New York, linking effective AI oversight to broader efforts aimed at making the UN more adaptable to worldwide changes.
Rahman stressed that governments must remain at the forefront of international discussions related to AI regulation and governance. However, he noted that states alone do not possess all the necessary expertise, technology, capital, or influence to manage the issue comprehensively. He pointed out that businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society already hold significant knowledge and technical capacity. Rahman called on the United Nations to establish direct engagement with those involved in developing and deploying AI. His appeal aimed to broaden the pool of expertise accessible to policymakers as AI systems become increasingly integrated into economies and public infrastructure.
The UNGA president highlighted that artificial intelligence is now embedded within water supplies, electrical grids, health records, economies, and military operations. This level of integration sets AI apart from earlier global challenges involving emerging technologies, he argued. Rahman also issued a warning against an arms race focused on AI control, emphasizing the need for cautious and scientifically informed safeguards. Simultaneously, he maintained that international AI governance must leave space for technological innovation and acknowledge AI’s potential to advance human development.
UN broadens international AI regulatory efforts
The United Nations has already established new mechanisms for global dialogue on artificial intelligence. Under Resolution 79/325, the General Assembly set up the Global Dialogue on AI Governance along with the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. The first session of the Global Dialogue took place in Geneva on July 6 and 7, 2026, creating a platform for governments and stakeholders to discuss key issues concerning AI oversight. The 40-member scientific panel provides independent analysis on AI opportunities, risks, and impacts to inform international policymaking.
Rahman also addressed multilateral AI governance discussions in New York on September 10, prior to the start of the General Debate. He emphasized the central question of how governments and other entities will oversee technologies already transforming societies. On September 20, Rahman met with International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. Their talks covered collaboration between the General Assembly and the ITU on AI oversight, as well as challenges posed by advanced AI and the importance of industry engagement amid ongoing international discussions.
AI policy discussions now integral to UN reform efforts
Rahman placed artificial intelligence within a wider framework advocating for a more transparent and inclusive United Nations. While member states and the UN Secretariat remain vital to the organization’s work, he acknowledged they cannot fulfill every requirement alone. His remarks called for increased collaboration with industry, innovators, researchers, and civil society where relevant expertise exists. These comments were made during the UN General Assembly’s high-level week in New York. The high-level debate for the 81st session began on September 22 and is scheduled to conclude on September 28, ending on September 26.
Rahman highlighted the necessity for the UN to respond swiftly to technological advancements in AI governance. He cited earlier international initiatives on nuclear non-proliferation, ozone layer protection, and human cloning as examples of the UN’s engagement with pressing global issues. His speech urged for “prudent and reliable guardrails” underpinned by scientific data and broad expertise. He emphasized that governments should maintain leadership in this arena, combining state oversight with technical input from organizations actively developing, studying, and utilizing artificial intelligence.