NEW YORK, NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Khalilur Rahman, president of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, emphasized Tuesday that the United Nations is lagging behind the rapid developments in artificial intelligence. He highlighted that AI is already integrated into critical systems influencing daily life around the globe. Rahman called for evidence-based safeguards that protect public interests while fostering ongoing innovation. His comments marked the opening of the General Debate at the UN headquarters in New York, linking effective AI oversight with broader efforts to increase the organization’s responsiveness to global changes.
Rahman stressed that governments should stay at the forefront of international discussions on AI regulation and governance. However, he also pointed out that they do not possess all the necessary expertise, technology, capital, or influence to handle the issue alone. Instead, he emphasized the importance of involving businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society, who already hold substantial knowledge and technical resources. Rahman urged the United Nations to engage directly with those creating and deploying AI, focusing on broadening the pool of expertise available to policymakers as AI systems become more embedded in economies and public infrastructure.
The UNGA president noted that artificial intelligence is now part of water systems, electricity grids, health records, economies, and military operations. This level of integration sets AI apart from earlier international challenges related to emerging technologies, he said. Rahman also issued a warning against an arms race for AI control, advocating for prudent, scientifically grounded safeguards. He argued that global AI governance should balance regulation with the need to support innovation and recognize the potential of technology to advance human progress.
UN broadens international AI oversight initiatives
The United Nations has established new platforms for global discussions on artificial intelligence. Under Resolution 79/325, the General Assembly set up the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. The Global Dialogue held its inaugural session in Geneva on July 6 and 7, 2026, providing a forum for governments and stakeholders to explore key questions in AI regulation. The 40-member scientific panel offers independent evidence on AI’s opportunities, risks, and impacts to inform international policymaking.
Rahman also addressed multilateral AI governance discussions in New York on September 10, prior to the start of the General Debate. He highlighted the core issue as how governments and stakeholders will regulate technologies already transforming societies. On September 20, Rahman met with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, to discuss cooperation between the UN and the ITU on AI governance. Their talks covered emerging AI challenges and the importance of ongoing engagement with industry as international discussions progress.
UN AI debate becomes integral to broader reform agenda
Rahman positioned artificial intelligence within a wider call for a more transparent and inclusive United Nations. He stated that member states and the UN Secretariat remain vital but cannot fulfill every capacity required independently. His remarks emphasized the need for increased collaboration with businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society where relevant expertise resides. These comments came during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly in New York, with the 81st session’s General Debate running from September 22 to September 26, concluding on September 28.
Rahman argued that AI governance is an area where the UN must adapt more swiftly to technological advances. He cited earlier global efforts on nuclear non-proliferation, ozone layer protection, and human cloning as examples of the UN’s engagement with major international challenges. His speech called for “prudent and reliable guardrails” based on scientific evidence and extensive expertise. He also emphasized that governments must remain central to the process, combining leadership with technical insights from institutions actively developing, studying, and utilizing artificial intelligence.