NEW YORK, NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Khalilur Rahman, who presides over the 81st United Nations General Assembly, emphasized Tuesday that the United Nations is lagging behind the rapid progress in artificial intelligence. He highlighted that AI is already influencing vital systems that impact daily life across the globe. Rahman advocated for scientifically grounded safeguards that protect the public interest without hindering innovation. His comments opened the General Debate at the UN headquarters in New York, tying effective AI regulation to broader efforts to make the organization more adaptable to global changes.
Rahman stressed that governments must stay at the forefront of international conversations on AI governance and regulation. He also pointed out that governments do not possess all the necessary expertise, technology, capital or influence to fully address the challenge. Instead, businesses, researchers, innovators and civil society already hold significant knowledge and technical skills, he said. Rahman called on the United Nations to actively involve those developing and deploying artificial intelligence, aiming to broaden the range of expertise accessible to policymakers as AI systems become increasingly embedded in economies and infrastructure.
According to Rahman, artificial intelligence is already integrated into water systems, electricity networks, health records, economies and military operations. This level of integration sets AI apart from earlier international concerns related to emerging technologies, he noted. He also issued a warning against a potential arms race over AI dominance, emphasizing the need for governments to establish careful, science-based guardrails. While advocating for international AI regulation, Rahman underscored the importance of preserving space for innovation and recognizing the potential for technology to advance human progress.
UN broadens framework for international AI regulation
The United Nations has taken steps to establish new mechanisms for global discussions on artificial intelligence. Under Resolution 79/325, the General Assembly set up the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. The first session of the Global Dialogue occurred in Geneva on July 6 and 7, 2026, providing a platform for governments and stakeholders to debate key issues in AI governance. The 40-member scientific panel offers independent insights into AI opportunities, risks and impacts for international policymaking.
Rahman also addressed AI governance in multilateral contexts during a session in New York on September 10, prior to the General Debate. He focused on the critical question of how governments and stakeholders will regulate technologies that are already transforming societies. On September 20, Rahman met with Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, to discuss cooperation between the UN General Assembly and the ITU on AI regulation. Their talks also covered challenges posed by advanced AI and the importance of ongoing engagement with industry stakeholders as discussions continue.
AI regulation integrated into broader UN reform efforts
Rahman framed artificial intelligence within a larger call for a more open and inclusive United Nations. While member states and the UN Secretariat remain essential, he noted they cannot handle every capability required alone. His remarks emphasized the need for stronger collaboration with businesses, innovators, researchers and civil society organizations where relevant expertise exists. These comments came during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly in New York, with the 81st session’s General Debate running from September 22 to September 26, concluding on September 28.
Rahman proposed that AI governance is an area where the UN must adapt more swiftly to technological advances. He cited earlier international initiatives on nuclear non-proliferation, ozone layer protection and human cloning as examples of the UN’s engagement with major global issues. His speech called for “prudent and reliable guardrails” grounded in scientific evidence and extensive expertise. He reiterated that governments should remain central to the process, combining leadership with input from organizations actively developing, studying and applying artificial intelligence.