UN Chief Calls for Global AI Governance and End to Wars

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for stronger international cooperation on artificial intelligence, an end to ongoing wars and reforms to global institutions as world leaders gathered in New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

Guterres made the appeal on September 22, 2026, in what was his final address to the General Assembly as UN secretary-general. His term ends on December 31.

The speech came as governments confronted conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, rising geopolitical tensions, climate pressures and rapid advances in artificial intelligence.

Guterres presented the challenges as interconnected problems involving the distribution and exercise of global power.

Guterres identifies four global tests

The UN chief identified four major areas that he said would determine whether the international community moves toward greater cooperation or deeper division: war and peace, inequality, climate change and artificial intelligence.

The United Nations said these four areas represent defining “tests of power” for humanity.

Guterres argued that the international system is under pressure from widening geopolitical divisions, weakened trust and repeated violations of international law.

He said conflicts have continued while civilians have been targeted, humanitarian workers killed and hunger used as a weapon.

The secretary-general also pointed to the increasing impact of climate change and the rapid development of AI as challenges that cannot be addressed effectively by countries acting entirely on their own.

UN chief seeks international AI rules

Artificial intelligence was one of the central issues in Guterres’ speech.

He called for binding international cooperation on AI governance and warned that decisions involving life and death should not be transferred to machines without meaningful human control.

The UN has increasingly treated AI governance as an international policy issue because advanced systems are being incorporated into areas including healthcare, finance, infrastructure, communications and military operations.

Guterres argued that governments need common rules to manage the risks while allowing technological innovation to continue.

The UN secretary-general has previously advocated international cooperation on AI safety and governance, including mechanisms involving governments, scientists, businesses and civil society.

AI competition raises governance concerns

The push for international AI rules comes as the United States, China and other countries compete to develop increasingly advanced AI systems.

The technology has become closely linked to economic competitiveness, national security and access to advanced computing infrastructure.

Guterres’ warning comes against a backdrop of disagreement over how much governments should regulate AI.

Some governments have focused on establishing safeguards and accountability requirements, while technology companies and other policymakers have also emphasised the need to preserve innovation.

At the UN, Guterres argued that international cooperation is necessary because AI systems operate across national borders and their effects can extend beyond the country where they are developed.

Warning against an AI arms race

Guterres also warned against a competition for control of advanced AI becoming an arms race.

The UN’s position is that governments should establish safeguards before technological developments create risks that are difficult to reverse.

The secretary-general’s remarks followed broader discussions at the General Assembly about the use of AI in military systems and the possibility of increasingly autonomous weapons.

The UN’s General Assembly president has also called for international guardrails based on scientific evidence and wider participation by governments, technology companies, researchers and civil society.

The debate therefore extends beyond software regulation to questions about national security, military technology and human oversight.

Guterres calls for an end to wars

The secretary-general also used his final General Assembly address to call for an end to ongoing conflicts.

The Middle East and Ukraine were among the conflicts receiving particular attention during the opening of the General Assembly, with world leaders using the gathering to present competing positions on how the wars should be resolved.

Guterres argued that military power alone cannot provide a lasting solution to international disputes.

His appeal came as the United States and Iran remained engaged in a major conflict, while Russia’s war against Ukraine continued despite repeated diplomatic efforts.

The Gaza conflict also remained a major issue during the General Assembly.

Middle East conflict dominates diplomacy

The war involving Iran was among the most prominent issues surrounding the opening of this year’s General Assembly.

US President Donald Trump defended US military action against Iran in his own address and said Washington remained open to a settlement.

Iranian delegates subsequently walked out during Trump’s remarks about the conflict.

Guterres’ appeal for diplomacy and adherence to international law therefore came at a time when major powers were presenting sharply different approaches to the use of military force.

The secretary-general has repeatedly called for negotiated solutions to international conflicts and for humanitarian access to populations affected by war.

Ukraine remains unresolved

The war in Ukraine was another major issue at the General Assembly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Trump in New York and discussed possible measures to reduce attacks against energy infrastructure.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to support an energy ceasefire if Russia also stopped attacks against Ukrainian energy facilities.

The proposal had not been accepted by Russia at the time of the meeting, meaning it remained a diplomatic initiative rather than an established ceasefire.

Guterres’ broader call for an end to wars came as governments continued to search for limited agreements that could reduce civilian and economic damage while wider peace negotiations remained unresolved.

Climate change remains a major concern

Climate change was another central part of Guterres’ message.

The secretary-general argued that governments must continue efforts to reduce emissions and hold major polluters accountable.

The UN has continued to warn that rising temperatures, extreme weather and environmental degradation are affecting economies and communities around the world.

Guterres connected climate policy with questions of inequality, arguing that poorer and more vulnerable populations can face severe consequences despite having contributed less to cumulative global emissions.

The issue is also linked to energy security, particularly as geopolitical conflicts disrupt oil and gas supplies.

Call for reform of the Security Council

Guterres again raised the question of reforming the UN Security Council.

The current permanent members are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Guterres described the continued absence of permanent African representation as “indefensible,” according to the United Nations.

African governments have long supported changes to the Security Council that would give the continent permanent representation.

The issue has remained difficult because any substantial change to the Council’s composition would require broad international agreement.

Questions about the UN’s effectiveness

Guterres’ speech also addressed concerns about the effectiveness of international institutions.

The UN is operating in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical environment, with major powers often disagreeing over conflicts, sanctions, international law and the role of multilateral organisations.

Reuters reported that the organisation is also facing financial and political pressures, including questions about funding and its ability to influence major international crises.

The secretary-general’s argument was that these difficulties strengthen rather than eliminate the need for international cooperation.

The UN, he said, remains a forum where governments can negotiate despite their differences.

Final General Assembly address

The September 22 speech marked Guterres’ final opening address to the General Assembly as secretary-general.

He took office in January 2017 and will leave the position at the end of 2026.

His final address therefore also served as a summary of issues that have defined his tenure, including wars, climate change, humanitarian crises, inequality and the changing role of technology.

Guterres said his commitment to peace and the principles of the UN Charter would continue after he leaves office.

AI becomes a defining international issue

The prominence of AI in Guterres’ final address reflects how quickly the technology has moved from a primarily technical subject into a major international policy issue.

AI is increasingly being used in business, healthcare, education, government services, scientific research and defence.

At the same time, governments are debating questions involving privacy, misinformation, cybersecurity, employment, safety and autonomous weapons.

The absence of a single global regulatory system means countries are developing different approaches.

Guterres’ proposal would place greater emphasis on international cooperation and common standards.

What comes next

The UN General Assembly will continue its high-level debate through the week, giving governments opportunities to address conflicts, climate change, economic pressures and technological developments.

The practical impact of Guterres’ AI proposals will depend on whether governments agree to stronger international mechanisms.

Similarly, calls for an end to wars will have to be translated into negotiations involving the governments and armed groups directly involved in individual conflicts.

UN reform proposals, including changes to the Security Council, face their own political and procedural obstacles.

Guterres leaves a broad agenda for the UN

Guterres’ final General Assembly address placed AI governance alongside war, climate change and inequality as major tests for the international system.

His central argument was that these challenges cannot be managed effectively through isolated national responses.

The UN chief called for greater international cooperation, stronger rules for emerging technologies, renewed efforts to end wars and reforms that would make global institutions more representative.

Whether governments can reach agreement on those priorities remains uncertain.

But with artificial intelligence developing rapidly and conflicts continuing across several regions, the issues raised in Guterres’ final address are likely to remain central to international diplomacy beyond the end of his tenure.