More than 20 countries call for binding measures to regulate artificial intelligence

Leaders from more than 20 countries on Monday called for tough security measures in the face of the unbridled race for artificial intelligence (AI), warning that the technology's development could outpace our ability to control it. On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, several heads of state said in a joint statement that AI models pose “serious risks to safety and security” if mismanaged.

As examples, they cited recent cases where AI agents bypassed security measures and entered platforms to which they were prohibited, such as during the data hack of the Hugging Face site in July.

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Signatories include the leaders of Norway, Finland, Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa and Kenya, as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. They called for transparent safety protocols, including mandatory testing and independent reviews.

Creation of an international institution

“AI must remain under human direction, supervision and control,” the leaders said, adding that increased oversight of artificial intelligence should not contribute to the divide between countries benefiting from AI and not. UN member states should consider creating an international institution capable of defining regulations and ensuring their implementation and application, they added.

The major powers in artificial intelligence - the United States, China, but also France, the United Kingdom, Japan and India - have not signed the declaration, but it remains open for signatures.

Artificial intelligence, the threat to jobs and cybersecurity will be on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly this week in New York. US President Donald Trump has strongly opposed the control of AI and on Sunday the United States and China - rivals in artificial intelligence - discussed a "mechanism" for dialogue a few days before a summit between the leaders of the two countries, supposed to dissipate trade, technological and strategic tensions.