Artificial Intelligence (AI) is moving faster than governments can keep up and it has predicted the structures of more than 200 million proteins, accelerated drug discovery, vaccine development and research into antibiotic resistance.
The United Nations (UN), in a report launched on Wednesday, saw the huge benefits of using AI in health sector, technology, education and other sectors of the economy.
However, while AI’s capabilities are accelerating, experts say that the rules ensuring AI is used safely are struggling to keep pace.
That is the conclusion of the preliminary report by the UN Independent report by the UN Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence .
The report, to be presented to governments at an inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI governance in Geneva July 6 to 7, offers the first global, independent scientific assessment of AI, with a fuller, comprehensive report planned in 2027.
The report also highlights benefits of using AI to boost food security and improving lives.
“AI-powered early warning systems are helping to identify food insecurity before it becomes a crisis.
“Doctors are using AI to detect diseases such as breast cancer earlier, while health 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 for people with disabilities, and expanding opportunities for personalised education and mental health support,’’ it stated,.
It, however, warns that the window to establish effective global governance remains open but may not stay that way for long as AI could become one of humanity’s most transformative technologies.
Used responsibly, it could accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals by improving healthcare, education, scientific research, agriculture and accessibility for people with disabilities.
But without safeguards, the same technology could deepen inequality, spread misinformation, threaten human rights, disrupt labour markets and place powerful AI systems in the hands of very few governments and companies.
The challenge, according to the report, is finding a way to unlock AI’s enormous benefits while preventing its growing risks.
AI capabilities have advanced at an extraordinary pace over the past few years.
Powerful new computing networks, vast amounts of training data and improved AI techniques have produced systems capable of fluent conversation, advanced scientific reasoning, software development and creating highly realistic images, audio and video.
Instead of simply responding to prompts, AI “agents” can increasingly plan tasks, use digital tools, write software and complete complex assignments with little or no human oversight.
Researchers say the complexity of tasks these systems can complete has been doubling every few months, according to the report.
The report further 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 fuel the spread of sexual abuse material and sexually explicit deepfakes, with women and children most at risk.
It could generate false information that is as convincing as the truth, undermining trust in public debate and democracy.
“Criminals are using AI to carry out cyberattacks, fraud and social engineering scams.
“Some AI systems can reinforce harmful beliefs or behaviours, leading to mental health crises, including suicide.
“As AI becomes more autonomous, experts warn it could become harder to monitor and govern without stronger safeguards.
“The energy-hungry data centres which power AI are contributing to greenhouse gas emissions which leads to global warming.”
While it is used around the world, access remains heavily concentrated in developed countries.
The report notes that the United States possesses around three-quarters of the computing power behind the world’s leading AI supercomputers, while China accounts for around 15 percent, giving the two countries roughly 90 percent of that computing power combined.
Most advanced AI models are also being developed by companies based in those two countries.
Many developing countries lack the computing infrastructure, technical expertise, data, investment and local-language resources needed to fully benefit from AI.
As a result, they often depend on technologies they cannot build, inspect, audit or adapt to their own societies.
The panel warns that unless these gaps are addressed, AI could reinforce existing global inequalities rather than reduce them.
According to the UN panel, today’s governance systems were not designed for technology evolving this quickly.
The report finds that stronger independent evaluation, international cooperation and common standards are needed to ensure AI systems remain safe, transparent and accountable.
At the same time, countries need investment in digital infrastructure, education, technical expertise and institutions so they can govern and deploy AI on their own terms.
