SHANGHAI, CHINA / RankWire.AI / – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for broader global oversight of artificial intelligence at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. He said technology shaping humanity’s future must reflect all countries, not only a small group of governments and companies. Guterres described AI as a major opportunity for medicine, education, food systems and employment. He also warned that weak international cooperation could deepen gaps in income, opportunity, security and access to essential services.
The secretary-general said one-third of humanity remains offline while computing power, specialist knowledge and investment stay concentrated in limited markets. He said developing countries need affordable computing, trusted data, local languages, technical training and reliable digital infrastructure. Those resources would help governments and researchers build systems suited to national needs and public services. More than 20 countries, including China, have nominated centers for a UN-backed network focused on AI capacity building across regions and income levels.
Guterres said he would soon present recommendations for a Global Fund for AI and urged governments to support the proposal. He set out three priorities: stronger capacity in developing countries, shared safety standards and lower environmental costs. The UN chief called for common testing and risk-management methods grounded in international law and human rights protections. He said people must retain control over every life-and-death decision, regardless of where AI is deployed in security, health or public safety.
Global standards and child safety
Child safety formed another central part of the appeal. Guterres focused especially on systems used by children. He said no AI system should reach a child’s hands before developers can prove it is safe. His remarks placed responsibility on governments and technology companies to create safeguards before products reach schools, homes or public services. He also linked effective AI governance to equal participation, saying every nation needs a seat at the table when governments develop international rules.
The environmental impact of artificial intelligence also featured prominently in the Shanghai address. Guterres asked major AI companies to disclose the energy, water and emissions costs of their systems. He called on them to power operations with renewable energy by 2030 and improve efficiency across data centers. Governments should also include clean energy for AI infrastructure in national energy and climate plans, he said. The measures would connect digital growth with existing environmental commitments.
Capacity building and cleaner AI
The proposals come as the United Nations expands its role in international AI governance. Member states created a Global Dialogue on AI Governance to support open discussions among governments, industry, researchers and civil society. The organization has also promoted scientific cooperation and capacity building for countries with limited technical resources. Guterres said governance systems must keep pace with rapid development while preserving human oversight, international law and public accountability. He said technology must serve people rather than the other way around.
At the conference, Guterres framed access, safety and sustainability as connected parts of the same global challenge. He said AI could support progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals through better health, education, agriculture and public services. The central test, he said, is whether the technology reduces inequality or reinforces existing divides. He urged governments and companies to cooperate on rules, investment and infrastructure so artificial intelligence serves people across every region.