2026-07-02 11:05:48
The United Nations (UN) has warned that the rapid development of artificial intelligence risks widening global inequality unless governments work together to establish shared rules for the technology.
A new report from the UN’s independent international scientific panel on AI says uneven investment and access to AI could leave many countries dependent on foreign technology while having little influence over how it is developed or regulated.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday (01.07.26), UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged governments not to delay action.
He said: “The more AI advances without shared rules, the less say governments and people will have in the outcome.
“Our message to governments is simple: do not wait … the science is here. We can no longer say we did not know what we do.”
The report, produced by the first global scientific body on AI established by the UN General Assembly, examines both the opportunities and risks presented by the technology.
It highlights AI’s potential to transform industries such as agriculture and education, while warning it could also be exploited to commit fraud, spread disinformation and influence elections.
The report states: “Access to AI tools alone does not produce equal benefit.
“Countries that rely on foreign models, cloud infrastructure and data pipelines may gain access to AI while losing practical control over its standards, safeguards and local fit.”
Co-chair Maria Ressa also warned that the technology’s rapid progress was concentrating power in too few hands.
She said: “AI’s pace is not slowing, the power is concentrating, and control is not guaranteed.”
The report recommends countries invest in local AI infrastructure, including data centres, improve AI education, support domestic developers, establish AI safety institutes and continuously monitor AI systems after deployment.
It also notes that while more than one billion people now use AI every week, adoption remains heavily concentrated in wealthier nations, with the US and China dominating advanced AI model development and computing infrastructure.
The panel warned: “The concentration of AI capabilities in a small number of firms and countries could enable authoritarian capture and undermine democratic accountability.”
While encouraging greater investment, the report also acknowledged the environmental costs of AI infrastructure, including the high energy and water demands of data centres, and called for responsible governance as AI capabilities continue to accelerate.
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