NEW YORK, NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Khalilur Rahman, who presides over the 81st United Nations General Assembly, warned on Tuesday that the organization is lagging behind the rapid progress in artificial intelligence. He highlighted that AI already influences vital systems affecting daily life worldwide. Rahman emphasized the need for scientifically grounded safeguards that protect the public while fostering ongoing innovation. His statements marked the opening of the General Debate at United Nations headquarters in New York, linking effective AI governance to broader efforts to enhance the organization’s responsiveness to global developments.
Rahman underscored that governments must remain central to international discussions concerning AI regulation and oversight. However, he also pointed out that they do not possess all the expertise, technology, capital, or influence necessary to manage the issue fully. Instead, significant knowledge and technical capacity are already held by businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society. Rahman urged the United Nations to engage directly with those involved in developing and deploying artificial intelligence. His appeal aimed to broaden the pool of expertise available to policymakers, especially as AI systems become increasingly integrated into economies and public infrastructure.
According to the UNGA president, AI is now embedded within water systems, electrical grids, health records, economies, and military forces. This level of integration sets AI apart from previous international challenges involving emerging technologies, he explained. Rahman also warned against a potential arms race over AI control, emphasizing that governments need prudent, scientifically based guardrails. He advocated for international AI governance that preserves room for innovation and recognizes the technology’s potential to support human advancement.
UN advances global framework for AI regulation
The United Nations has already established new mechanisms to facilitate international dialogue 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 convened its first session in Geneva on July 6 and 7, 2026, providing a platform for governments and other stakeholders to discuss pressing questions regarding AI regulation. The 40-member scientific panel offers independent evidence on AI opportunities, risks, and impacts to inform international policy debates.
Rahman also addressed multilateral AI governance discussions in New York on September 10, ahead of the General Debate. He explained that the key question was how governments and stakeholders will regulate technologies already transforming societies. On September 20, Rahman met with International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. Their talks focused on collaboration between the General Assembly and the ITU concerning artificial intelligence governance, alongside discussions of advanced AI challenges and the importance of industry engagement during ongoing international discussions.
AI regulation integrated into broader UN reform efforts
Rahman positioned artificial intelligence within a larger push for a more open and inclusive United Nations. He stated that while member states and the UN Secretariat remain vital to the organization’s work, they cannot cover all necessary capabilities alone. His comments emphasized the need for stronger collaboration with businesses, innovators, researchers, and civil society where relevant expertise exists. These remarks coincided with the UN General Assembly’s high-level week in New York, which runs from September 22 through September 26, concluding on September 28.
Rahman highlighted AI governance as an area where the UN must adapt more swiftly to technological change. Drawing on past international efforts on nuclear non-proliferation, ozone layer protection, and human cloning, he illustrated the organization’s role in addressing major global challenges. His speech called for “prudent and reliable guardrails” grounded in scientific evidence and broader expertise. He also stressed that governments should remain at the center of the process, combining leadership with technical input from institutions actively developing, studying, and utilizing artificial intelligence.