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Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing faster than governments can keep up, predicting the structures of more than 200 million proteins and accelerating research into drug discovery, vaccine development, and antibiotic resistance.
In a report released Wednesday, the United Nations recognized the huge benefits of using AI in health, technology, education and other economic sectors.
But even as AI capabilities accelerate, the rules to ensure its safe use are struggling to keep up, experts say.
This is the conclusion of the preliminary report of the United Nations Independent Report by the United Nations Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.
The report, which will be presented to governments at the first United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance to be held in Geneva on July 6-7, provides the first global, independent scientific assessment of AI, with a fuller and more comprehensive report expected in 2027.
The report also highlights the benefits of using AI to enhance food security and improve livelihoods.
“AI-powered early warning systems can help identify food insecurity before it becomes a crisis.
“Doctors are using AI to detect diseases like breast cancer early, and healthcare workers in developing countries are using AI tools in local languages to improve patient care.
“Improving lives: AI is supporting scientific research, making technology more accessible to people with disabilities, and expanding opportunities for personalized education and mental health support,” the report said.
However, the report warns that while the window for establishing effective global governance remains open, it may not remain so for long as AI has the potential to become one of humanity’s most transformative technologies.
When used responsibly, they can accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals by improving healthcare, education, scientific research, agriculture and accessibility for people with disabilities.
But without safeguards, these same technologies can deepen inequalities, spread misinformation, threaten human rights, disrupt labor markets, and put powerful AI systems in the hands of a few governments and businesses.
The challenge, according to the report, is to find ways to unlock the tremendous benefits of AI while guarding against its growing risks.
AI capabilities have advanced at an incredible pace over the past few years.
Powerful new computing networks, vast amounts of training data, and improved AI techniques have created systems capable of fluent conversation, advanced scientific reasoning, software development, and the creation of highly realistic images, audio, and video.
Beyond simply responding to prompts, AI “agents” are increasingly able to plan tasks, use digital tools, create software, and complete complex assignments with little or no human supervision.
According to the report, researchers say the complexity of the tasks these systems can perform doubles every few months.
The report also highlights the risks of using AI, noting that the same technology is also creating new dangers such as online abuse, disinformation, crime, mental health, loss of control, and environmental impact.
AI could facilitate the spread of sexually abusive content and sexually explicit deepfakes, with women and children most at risk.
Misinformation can be generated as convincingly as the truth, undermining public debate and trust in democracy.
“Criminals are leveraging AI to carry out cyberattacks, fraud, and social engineering scams.
“Some AI systems can reinforce harmful beliefs and behaviors and cause mental health crises, including suicide.
“As AI becomes more autonomous, experts warn that it could become difficult to monitor and manage without stronger safeguards.
“Data centers that power AI consume large amounts of energy and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.”
Although it is used all over the world, access is still concentrated in developed countries.
The report notes that the United States has about three-quarters of the computing power of the world’s leading AI supercomputers, while China has about 15 percent, and the two countries together account for about 90 percent of the computing power.
Cutting-edge AI models are also being developed by companies based in these two countries.
Many developing countries lack the computing infrastructure, technical expertise, data, investment, and local language resources needed to reap the full benefits of AI.
As a result, they often rely on technologies that cannot be built, inspected, audited, or adapted to their society.
The panel warns that unless these gaps are addressed, AI is likely to increase rather than reduce existing global inequalities.
Today’s governance systems were not designed for such rapidly evolving technology, according to the UN panel.
The report says stronger independent evaluations, international cooperation and common standards are needed to ensure the safety, transparency and accountability of AI systems.
At the same time, countries need investments in digital infrastructure, education, technical expertise, and institutions to manage and deploy AI on their own terms. (South)
A.I.
July 2, 2026
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