UN Secretary-General Guterres calls for global rules on artificial intelligence

Warning against vibe-coding

To limit the risks, Guterres called for binding international rules. "Common methods for assessing and reviewing risks" are needed, as well as standards for child protection in access to AI systems. In doing so, he linked up with a debate that has been ongoing in international forums for months on standards, liability, and transparency.

The event in Geneva underscored the sense of urgency that the United Nations attaches to the issue. Guterres pointed out that without clear rules, technology could advance faster than the political and legal framework. A coordinated, internationally agreed response is therefore essential.

Demand for risk assessment and child protection

With regard to child protection, the UN Secretary-General emphasized that young people must be especially protected. AI applications reaching minors require their own safety provisions, as conventional regulation often does not reflect the special features of algorithm-based systems.

The demands from Geneva come at a time when several states and international bodies are working on AI conventions. Guterres' appearance lent additional weight to this debate and brought the term vibe-coding to the forefront as a catchy label that pointedly names the risks of uncoordinated development.

International debate on standards

Guterres also commented on the fundamental question of shaping technology: "Die Frage ist, ob wir diese Veränderung gemeinsam gestalten oder ob wir zulassen, dass sie uns gestaltet." With this formulation, he linked the technological debate with a political call for joint action at the international level.

Observers see the appearance as a signal to governments, research institutions, and the private sector to agree on binding minimum standards. Which concrete steps the UN Secretary-General proposes in this regard remained open at the Geneva event.