International Division on Artificial Intelligence.. UN Vote Passes Despite US Objection

The United Nations General Assembly witnessed a notable vote approving the establishment of an international scientific committee to study the risks of artificial intelligence, in a move considered a global shift in technology regulation, despite clear objections from the United States.

A sweeping majority supports the new committee

117 members approved the formation of the scientific committee, which includes 40 international experts, while only two countries, Paraguay and the United States, opposed it. Tunisia and Ukraine abstained from voting.
The decision received broad support from countries including Russia and China, along with several developing nations and Washington's allies in Europe and Asia.

Guterres: A step towards a global understanding of technology

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the formation of the committee represents a foundational step towards building an independent global scientific vision on artificial intelligence, noting that it will help countries assess its economic and social impacts in a balanced manner.
He explained that the selection of committee members came after reviewing thousands of nominations through international bodies, including the International Telecommunication Union and UNESCO, with the committee's term set to last three years.

Washington rejects and describes the step as overstepping authority

In contrast, the US representative considered the establishment of the committee as an overreach of the UN's role, asserting that President Donald Trump's administration refuses to hand over the governance of artificial intelligence to international bodies.
Washington emphasized that it will continue to lead innovation in this field in collaboration with like-minded countries, warning of the potential for international frameworks to impose regulatory models on societies.

A global struggle for the future of technology

The disagreement over the committee reflects the escalating international competition over the regulation of artificial intelligence, amid growing concerns about its risks to the economy, security, and privacy, against the backdrop of several countries seeking to impose common rules governing its global development.