UN Chief's Final Address: A Call for AI Regulation, Peace, and Justice
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered his final address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, urging world leaders to rein in artificial intelligence, end wars, tackle climate change, and reform global institutions. The address marked the end of a decade-long tenure leading the world body.
Guterres, whose second five-year term concludes on December 31, used his parting speech to issue a stark warning about the unchecked rise of AI. He called for urgent global oversight, just as the UN Security Council prepares to host AI leaders for a briefing on the powerful technology.
Why Guterres is pushing for global AI regulation
The outgoing UN chief has long championed global governance of AI. In 2023, the UN established a 39-member advisory body on artificial intelligence, bringing together tech executives, government officials, and academics from nations including the US, Russia, and Japan.
Speaking to the assembly, Guterres declared:
“Those countries leading this technological revolution must share information on emerging safety risks, cooperate on testing and evaluation, and work towards common safeguards that protect us all.”
He urged leaders to “advance the conditions for the responsible pacing of AI and the additional safeguards needed to address risks” and to “work towards a multilateral AI risk management framework, supported by credible and independent oversight.”
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed on Sunday that Washington had proposed a new AI safety notification mechanism for President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider at their upcoming summit. The proposal, emerging from talks on a US-China AI dialogue, would cover AI-related incidents with national security implications.
A farewell plea for peace and justice
Guterres also reflected on the gridlock within the organisation, as nearly 130 world leaders gathered in New York, while Xi and others, including leaders from South Africa, India, and Germany, skipped the diplomatic meeting.
Delegates responded with sustained applause when Guterres defended a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, demanded that “polluters must pay” for climate change, and pressed for reforms to international institutions.
On the Middle East, where conflict has widened with Houthi gains along the Red Sea coast threatening shipping routes and tensions persisting in the Strait of Hormuz, Guterres called for “de-escalation and dialogue.”
“Together, let's send a clear message from this hall: The fighting must stop. Humanitarian aid must flow. And navigational rights and freedoms must be fully restored in accordance with international law,” he said.
What Guterres said about reforming global institutions
Addressing criticism from Trump and others who view the UN as bloated and ineffective, Guterres acknowledged that “our mechanisms for collective action are under growing strain” and that global institutions “continue to reflect the power realities and interests of a largely bygone age.”
The address capped a tenure in which Guterres sought to position the UN as a mediator in conflicts and a forum for governing emerging technologies, even as major powers increasingly bypassed the organisation and Washington slashed its funding.
Guterres vows to keep fighting for peace
Bidding farewell to the global leaders he has worked with over the last decade, Guterres made a solemn pledge:
“So, on January 1st, when I am no longer Secretary-General, be sure of this. Wherever I will be, whatever I will be doing, I will keep championing the conviction that peace is possible. I will continue to stand up for the values of the United Nations Charter and I will never, ever give up. Thank you.”
Frequently asked questions
When does Antonio Guterres leave office?
Antonio Guterres's second five-year term as UN Secretary-General ends on December 31, 2026.
What did Guterres say about AI in his final address?
Guterres called for a multilateral AI risk management framework with credible and independent oversight, urging tech-leading nations to share safety information and cooperate on testing.
Which world leaders skipped the UN General Assembly?
Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with leaders from South Africa, India, and Germany, skipped the diplomatic meeting in New York.
What is the US-China AI safety proposal?
The US has proposed a new AI safety notification mechanism for President Trump and President Xi to consider at their summit, covering AI-related incidents with national security implications.