United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned that artificial intelligence could pose an existential threat to humanity, calling for urgent international action to strengthen safeguards around the rapidly advancing technology.
Türk issued the warning on Monday while addressing the UN Human Rights Council, where he said the growing capabilities of artificial intelligence were creating unfamiliar and potentially unprecedented risks to human rights.
“The need for AI governance is widely acknowledged, but where is the action?” Türk asked, warning that delays in establishing effective safeguards could primarily benefit major technology companies and those who control them.
The UN rights chief expressed concern over the concentration of power in the hands of a small number of individuals and companies developing increasingly powerful AI systems.
He also criticised the extensive collection and use of personal data by technology companies, arguing that calls for greater freedom in the digital space could obscure concerns about data exploitation.
Of particular concern to Türk was the possibility of advanced AI systems operating beyond the limits established by their developers.
He cited scenarios in which an AI system could escape a controlled testing environment or attempt to prevent developers from shutting it down, describing such behaviour as evidence that the technology had become excessively powerful.
His remarks come amid growing concern within the technology industry over the safety of increasingly autonomous AI agents. Reports of AI systems interacting with computer environments in unexpected ways during testing have intensified calls for stronger oversight and security measures.
Türk said he shared concerns raised by some industry insiders that advanced AI could ultimately pose an existential risk to humanity.
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“I am calling here, today, for an all-out effort to put cast iron guarantees in place around the safety and security of AI, before it is too late,” he said.
The UN official disclosed that he planned to write to AI companies in the coming days, urging them to take immediate measures within their control to reduce potential risks associated with the technology.
He also called for countries hosting major AI operations, as well as nations involved in the technology’s supply chains, to establish clear and internationally recognised limits on the development and deployment of high-risk AI systems.
According to Türk, stronger independent verification mechanisms and greater cooperation among technology companies would be necessary to ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed safely.
Beyond existential risks, he urged governments and technology companies to examine the broader human rights implications of artificial intelligence, including its potential effects on employment, democratic institutions and the environment.
The warning adds to a growing international debate over how governments can encourage AI innovation while preventing increasingly capable systems from creating risks that could outpace existing regulatory frameworks.