AI Must Not Be Controlled by a Handful of Billionaires, Says Antonio Guterres
UN chief calls for $3 billion global fund, stronger oversight, and equitable access to artificial intelligence
New Delhi, Feb 19: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday cautioned that artificial intelligence must not be shaped by a handful of nations or controlled by a small group of wealthy tech leaders, urging inclusive global governance at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital.
Addressing world leaders and technology executives, Guterres underscored that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence presents both transformative opportunities and serious risks. Without urgent safeguards, he warned, the technology could widen global inequality, entrench bias, and cause widespread harm.
At the same time, he highlighted AI’s potential to accelerate progress in healthcare, education, food security, climate action, and access to essential public services if developed responsibly.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for hosting what he described as the first AI summit in the Global South, Guterres said the event carried special significance in ensuring broader representation in global technology discussions.
He called for the establishment of international guardrails to guarantee transparency, accountability, and oversight in AI systems. Proposing the creation of a $3 billion global fund, he said such an initiative would help countries build foundational AI capacity and prevent them from being excluded from technological advancement.
Urging technology companies to contribute, he noted that the proposed amount would represent less than one per cent of the annual revenue of a single major tech firm, describing it as a modest investment for global benefit.
Guterres also raised environmental concerns, pointing out that the growing energy and water demands of data centres must be met through clean power solutions rather than shifting environmental burdens onto vulnerable communities.
Emphasising multilateral cooperation, he said AI development should be guided by ethical standards, human rights principles, and strong international oversight. He stressed that no child should become a test subject for unregulated technology.
The UN chief further referred to the United Nations’ newly established AI scientific advisory body, created to assist governments in making informed policy decisions as AI adoption accelerates worldwide.
Concluding his address, Guterres said real impact would mean ensuring that innovation improves lives while protecting the planet, and called for building artificial intelligence systems that prioritise human dignity by default.
