AI could pose ‘existential’ risk to humanity, UN rights chief warns


United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk holds a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, July 27, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

GENEVA, Sept ⁠7 (Reuters) - U.N. rights chief ⁠Volker Turk warned on ‌Monday that artificial intelligence could become powerful enough to threaten humanity, ​and said he would ⁠urge companies ⁠in the coming days to reduce ⁠the ‌risks.

“I share the concerns of industry ⁠insiders that advanced AI could ​pose ‌an existential risk to humanity,” ⁠Volker ​Turk told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva ⁠in a sweeping speech ​ahead of the start of his second term next month.

“I ⁠am calling here, today, for an all-out effort to put cast iron guarantees ​in place ⁠around the safety and security ​of AI, before ‌it is too ​late.”

(Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Friederike Heine)

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