UN chief calls for $3bn global AI fund, warns against billionaire control of technology

The Secretary-General of the United Nations has cautioned that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence must not be shaped by the interests of a small group of powerful technology executives, warning that without global oversight the technology could widen existing inequalities.

Speaking at an international AI summit in India attended by government leaders and senior technology executives, Antonio Guterres said decisions about the development and deployment of artificial intelligence must not rest with a handful of nations or corporate figures. He argued that the transformative technology should be treated as a shared global resource rather than a concentrated commercial asset.

Guterres proposed the creation of a $3 billion “Global Fund on AI” aimed at strengthening access to the technology in lower-income countries and building essential infrastructure and expertise. He told delegates that the target sum would represent only a fraction of the annual revenues generated by major technology firms, describing it as a modest investment in ensuring that AI benefits are distributed more evenly across the world.

He warned that failure to act could leave many nations excluded from what he described as the emerging AI era. Such exclusion, he said, risks reinforcing economic and technological divides between developed and developing countries.

While highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence to accelerate medical innovation, expand educational access, improve food systems, strengthen climate response and enhance disaster preparedness, Guterres also stressed the risks. Without proper governance, he said, AI systems could entrench bias, intensify social disparities and expose individuals to exploitation.

The UN chief underlined the need for safeguards to protect vulnerable groups, particularly children, saying they must not be exposed to unregulated experimentation. He called for clear global standards to ensure transparency, oversight and accountability in the design and use of AI systems.

The United Nations has already established a scientific advisory body to support governments in navigating the technological and ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence. However, Guterres indicated that stronger coordination and funding are required to ensure that no country is left behind.

Environmental concerns also featured prominently in his address. As AI systems become more advanced, they demand significant computing power, driving up energy and water consumption through expanding data centre networks. Guterres urged companies to transition to renewable energy sources and avoid transferring environmental costs to communities least able to absorb them.

Among those attending the summit were senior figures from leading technology companies, including OpenAI and Google, reflecting the growing intersection between public policy and private-sector innovation in shaping the future of AI.

Guterres concluded that the trajectory of artificial intelligence will depend on collective choices made now. He said the international community faces a defining moment: to harness the technology’s promise for shared progress or allow its benefits to be concentrated among a limited few.