Twenty countries propose international supervision of artificial intelligence to ensure it remains under human control

Artificial intelligence must remain under human supervision and control and be developed and used in accordance with international law, according to a declaration adopted by 20 countries calling for international cooperation in risk management, including the possibility of establishing a global supervision body.

The declaration highlights that artificial intelligence has the “potential to improve lives, advance science, and strengthen the economy,” but warns that the “rapid development of the most advanced AI models carries serious safety and security risks if not managed appropriately.”

The declaration, adopted on Monday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, was supported by, among others, Norway, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Ireland, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Singapore, and Turkey, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is also among the signatories.

The US and China, leading nations in artificial intelligence development, did not sign the declaration, nor did the UK, France, Italy, India, or Japan.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, one of the initiators of the document, said he hopes more actors will join.

– I think it is in the interest of both China and the US to have some kind of safety mechanism. Our message is that we need human intervention, that humans have the final say – Stubb told the Brussels-based news outlet Politico.

To manage risks associated with the most advanced AI technologies, the declaration’s signatories call on companies to develop “transparent safety protocols, including mandatory pre-deployment testing and independent assessment.”

Governments and regional organizations are urged to develop and coordinate common standards, enhance transparency, “including shared reporting on serious safety incidents,” and ensure that all countries have access to scientific and technical expertise as well as reliable assessments.

– UN member states should build upon existing international mechanisms and consider establishing an international institution that would set standards, enable verification, and call upon states when critical capability thresholds are exceeded – the declaration states.

Stubb told Politico that the signatories advocate for the creation of a new institution, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency, within the UN framework, but noted that the specific structure should remain an open question “so that people do not reject the initiative simply because it would be under the UN umbrella.”

Stubb cited three main reasons why the lack of effective AI oversight poses a threat, AI-generated biological weapons, cyberattacks carried out by AI agents, and killer robots that use artificial intelligence to launch lethal attacks.

Stubb emphasized that the benefits of artificial intelligence could be far greater if the technology is used correctly, citing “disease eradication, productivity, information access, and many other things.”

artificial intelligence

Alexander Stubb

UN General Assembly