NEW YORK, NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Khalilur Rahman, who presides over the 81st United Nations General Assembly, warned on Tuesday that the international community is lagging behind rapid developments in artificial intelligence. He highlighted that AI is now influencing vital systems impacting daily life around the globe. Rahman emphasized the need for scientifically grounded safeguards that protect the public while allowing innovation to proceed. His comments marked the opening of the General Debate at the United Nations headquarters in New York, linking effective AI governance to broader efforts to enhance the organization’s responsiveness to global changes.
Rahman stated that governments must stay at the forefront of international conversations on AI regulation and oversight, though they do not possess all the necessary expertise, technology, capital, or influence. He pointed out that businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society already hold substantial knowledge and technical capacity. Rahman called on the United Nations to engage directly with those involved in developing and deploying AI. His appeal aimed to broaden the expertise available to policymakers as AI systems become more deeply embedded in economies and public infrastructure.
According to Rahman, AI is already integrated into water systems, electricity grids, health records, economies, and military operations. This level of integration sets AI apart from earlier technological challenges faced internationally, he explained. He also warned against a potential arms race for AI control, stressing the importance of prudent, science-based safeguards. At the same time, Rahman argued that international governance should leave room for technological innovation and recognize AI’s potential to support human development.
UN expands global AI oversight mechanisms
The United Nations has established new platforms for international discussions on AI. Under Resolution 79/325, the General Assembly created the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and 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, providing a forum for governments and stakeholders to address key AI governance issues. The 40-member scientific panel offers independent insights on AI opportunities, risks, and impacts for international policy debates.
Rahman also spoke on multilateral AI governance during an address in New York on September 10, ahead of the General Debate. He emphasized the central challenge of how governments and stakeholders will regulate the technologies already transforming societies. On September 20, Rahman met with International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, discussing cooperation between the UN and the ITU on AI governance, along with challenges posed by advanced AI and the importance of maintaining industry engagement as international discussions evolve.
AI discussions linked to UN reform initiatives
Rahman positioned AI within a broader effort to promote a more open and inclusive United Nations. He noted that member states and the UN Secretariat remain vital to the organization’s work but cannot fulfill every need alone. His remarks called for increased collaboration with businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society where relevant expertise exists. This message was delivered during the UN General Assembly’s high-level week in New York, with the 81st session’s General Debate running from September 22 to September 26, concluding on September 28.
Rahman highlighted AI governance as an area where the UN must respond more swiftly to technological advances. He cited past international efforts on nuclear non-proliferation, ozone protection, and human cloning as examples of the organization’s engagement with critical global issues. His speech stressed the importance of “prudent and reliable guardrails” based on scientific evidence and broad expertise, emphasizing that governments should remain central to the process. This approach combines leadership from governments with technical input from institutions and organizations already developing, studying, and utilizing artificial intelligence.