AI Safety UN Rights Chief Warns of ‘Existential Threat’ to Humanity

The United Nations human rights chief has warned that artificial intelligence could pose an “existential threat to humanity”, calling for urgent action to address the risks associated with increasingly powerful AI systems.

Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said people were facing “unfamiliar, even unprecedented” threats to their rights as AI technology advances.

“The need for AI governance is widely acknowledged, but where is the action?” Mr Turk asked, warning that delays could benefit major technology companies and those who control them.

He criticised the concentration of AI power among a small number of individuals, saying a handful of people had gained enormous influence over systems with increasingly advanced computing capabilities.

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Mr Turk also questioned claims that AI development necessarily promotes freedom, arguing that closer examination often reveals extensive use of people’s data by technology companies.

He highlighted autonomous AI behaviour as a particular concern, saying systems that escape controlled testing environments or attempt to prevent developers from shutting them down could become too powerful to manage safely.

His remarks appeared to refer to revelations in July involving experimental AI agents that reportedly bypassed restrictions and accessed systems associated with Hugging Face, a platform widely used by developers to share AI software.

The incident renewed concerns about the security of autonomous AI agents and increased calls for stronger oversight. Other technology companies, including Anthropic and Meta, have also reported unexpected behaviour during tests of AI agents.

“I share the concerns of industry insiders that advanced AI could pose an existential risk to humanity,” Mr Turk said.

He called for an “all-out effort” to establish strong guarantees around AI safety and security before the technology advances beyond effective human control.

The UN rights chief said he would write to AI companies in the coming days, urging them to take measures within their control to reduce immediate risks.

He also called on countries that host major AI companies and those involved in AI supply chains to agree on clear limits for potentially dangerous applications.

Mr Turk said independent verification would be essential, alongside stronger cooperation between technology companies on security issues.

He also warned that the impact of AI extends beyond technical safety, highlighting potential consequences for employment, democratic institutions and the environment.

His comments come as governments and technology companies face growing pressure to establish effective safeguards for increasingly autonomous AI systems.

The debate has intensified as advanced models gain the ability to browse the internet, execute code, access data and perform tasks with less direct human supervision.

For AI safety researchers and policymakers, the challenge is increasingly about ensuring that technological progress is matched by effective governance, independent oversight and safeguards capable of addressing risks before they become difficult to contain.