“Artificial intelligence has the potential to do enormous good,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a recent meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
“Scientists are using AI to discover medications that could fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. AI models are predicting natural disasters more accurately so that communities can better prepare. These tools are identifying new crystal structures that could help us build the next generation of electric vehicle batteries.”
At the same time, Secretary Blinken said, AI has the capacity to threaten international peace and security.
“With AI, hackers can make cyber-attacks more destructive, harder to trace. Repressive regimes are using AI-enabled surveillance to target journalists and political dissidents, destabilizing societies. If algorithms are built into weapon systems – and if they malfunction - they could accidentally spark a conflict.”
During the last few years, the United States has been leading international efforts to address both the perils and the opportunities of AI, by securing commitments from leading American companies to make AI systems safer.
Last month, the United States launched an international network of AI safety institutes that will offer practical guidance for developers and technology companies.
“We’re also getting and setting ground rules for governments,” said Secretary Blinken.
“This year, the European Union, the United States, [and] nine other countries signed the first international treaty on AI. We pledged to protect human rights, democracy, [and] the rule of law when we use AI. That means safeguarding data privacy. It means adopting transparency and accountability measures. It means implementing other strategies that would limit any harms.”
“But for all the progress, I think we all know far more work remains to be done,” noted Secretary Blinken.
“Today, state and non-state actors are increasingly using these tools to influence and distort public opinion, to manipulate geopolitical narratives, to make offensive cyber operations more effective. And this is only going to get worse as AI advances.”
The United States opposes the malicious use of AI by any actor and calls on other Security Council members to reject and condemn these practices.
“I’m convinced that we can shape AI for the better,” said Secretary Blinken, “so that it remains a force for progress and for the advancement of people all around the world.”
