UN Rights Chief Warns ‘Clock on AI Regulation Is Ticking’

Shibbir Ahmed, New York – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned Monday that the world is running out of time to establish safeguards for artificial intelligence, as a rapid race among companies and governments to develop increasingly powerful systems raises concerns about human rights, security and human safety.

Speaking at an AI and Human Rights Summit in Oxford, Türk said artificial intelligence could deliver major advances in science, health, education and human rights. But he warned that the technology is increasingly being developed and controlled by a small number of companies and governments, with limited public oversight.

He said AI systems are already capable of actions that their creators cannot fully predict or manage. Türk warned that artificial intelligence could undermine equality, freedom, privacy and public debate in ways that may initially go unnoticed. He said AI-driven systems could potentially affect people’s access to essential services, including communications, clean water, heating and financial services.

The UN rights chief called for urgent measures to prevent machines from making decisions over life and death, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly important in warfare.

He also raised concerns about the effect of AI on education, citing studies suggesting that students who rely heavily on the technology may retain less information and think less independently. Türk questioned whether society could reach a point where people are unable to understand, challenge or effectively guide increasingly sophisticated AI systems.

The warning came as officials in New York City were also examining the risks posed by artificial intelligence. The New York City Council held a Committee of the Whole hearing Monday as it considers 10 bills aimed at regulating AI. Representatives from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and Meta were among those providing testimony.

Türk called for mandatory human rights safeguards and due diligence in the development and use of AI. He said countries that host AI companies or have influence over their supply chains should require responsible practices and hold companies accountable when they fail to meet those standards.

He acknowledged that existing laws cannot address every emerging AI challenge, saying some areas may require new legal approaches. In the meantime, he urged governments to strengthen rules governing liability, cybersecurity and data protection.

Türk also called for greater international cooperation on AI security, independent monitoring of the industry and stronger participation by civil society and people whose rights are affected by AI systems.

He welcomed recent international initiatives, including the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. He also pointed to a joint call for tighter controls on frontier AI models supported by 29 countries and the European Union.

The UN official said recent voluntary commitments by AI companies on safeguards, self-regulation and risk assessment represented some progress, but warned that commitments must be followed by concrete action.

“Too few are walking the talk,” Türk said. He said the international community could no longer afford to wait for voluntary action or rely solely on goodwill.

“If we fail to move quickly,” Türk warned, “we risk unforeseeable consequences — for ourselves and future generations.”