NEW YORK, NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Khalilur Rahman, serving as the president of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, issued a warning on Tuesday that the organization is lagging behind the rapid progress of artificial intelligence. He emphasized that AI currently influences vital systems impacting daily life on a global scale. Rahman advocated for safeguards grounded in scientific understanding to shield the public while permitting ongoing innovation. His comments marked the opening of the General Debate at United Nations headquarters in New York. He linked the effectiveness of AI governance with broader efforts to increase the organization’s responsiveness to worldwide changes.
Rahman stressed the importance of governments remaining central in international conversations about AI regulation and governance. However, he also pointed out that governments do not possess all the necessary expertise, technology, capital, or influence to fully address the issue. Significant knowledge and technical capacity are already held by businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society, he noted. Rahman called on the United Nations to engage directly with those actively developing and deploying artificial intelligence. His appeal focused on broadening the range of expertise accessible to policymakers as AI systems become more deeply embedded in economies and public infrastructure.
The UNGA president highlighted that artificial intelligence is now integrated into water systems, power grids, health records, economies, and military operations. This level of integration sets AI apart from earlier international challenges related to emerging technologies, he explained. Rahman also issued a warning about an arms race for AI dominance, emphasizing the need for prudent and scientifically-supported guardrails. Simultaneously, he argued that international AI governance should allow space for innovation and recognize the potential of technology to advance human development.
UN develops new mechanisms for global AI oversight
The United Nations has already established new platforms for international dialogue on artificial intelligence. Under Resolution 79/325, the General Assembly launched the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. The inaugural session of the Global Dialogue took place in Geneva on July 6 and 7, 2026, providing a forum for governments and stakeholders to discuss critical questions regarding AI governance. The 40-member scientific panel offers independent insights into AI opportunities, risks, and impacts to inform international policymaking.
Rahman also spoke on multilateral AI governance in New York on September 10, prior to the start of the General Debate. He emphasized the central concern of how governments and stakeholders will oversee technologies already transforming societies. On September 20, Rahman met with the Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, to discuss cooperation between the General Assembly and the ITU on AI governance. Their discussion also covered the challenges posed by advanced AI and the necessity of ongoing engagement with industry sectors as international dialogues progress.
AI regulation becomes integral to UN reform efforts
Rahman positioned artificial intelligence within a broader push for a more open and inclusive United Nations. He stated that member states and the UN Secretariat are vital but insufficient alone to meet all organizational needs. His remarks called for increased collaboration with businesses, researchers, innovators, and civil society where relevant expertise exists. These comments were delivered during the UN General Assembly’s high-level week in New York, with the 81st session’s General Debate beginning September 22 and concluding on September 28.
He presented AI governance as an area where the United Nations must respond more swiftly to technological advancements. Citing past international efforts on nuclear non-proliferation, ozone protection, and human cloning, Rahman highlighted the organization’s role in tackling global challenges. His speech advocated for “prudent and reliable guardrails” backed by scientific evidence and broader expertise. He also stressed that governments must remain at the core of the process, combining leadership with technical input from institutions already involved in AI research, development, and application.