Artificial Intelligence poses a significant threat, with a 95% likelihood of human extinction, according to The Times report.
In a stark warning, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) poses significant risks to humanity, likening the current situation to driving towards a cliff at high speeds.
Guterres expressed his concerns about the unpredictable risks associated with AI, stating that we are barreling towards the edge at full speed. He believes that without proper safeguards, AI could disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations and could even silently infect almost everyone.
The expert, who did not specify the exact ways AI could harm humanity, shared similar concerns. Some of AI's internal decision-making processes, they said, are beyond human comprehension, and the inability to control these processes poses a significant threat. The expert also expressed concern that we may not be able to find out the truth about AI's internal decision-making processes.
The expert did not suggest that we cannot stop the harmful actions of AI, but emphasized the urgency of the situation. They identified the ability to systematically deceive as a potential danger that needs immediate attention.
Current efforts to control AI decision-making and mitigate existential risks to humanity involve a combination of detailed state-level AI rules, federal policy strategies, and international considerations.
At the state level, California has enacted landmark AI regulations, effective October 1, 2025, specifically targeting automated decision-making systems (ADS) in employment. These regulations focus on preventing discriminatory outcomes and regulating data practices rather than imposing broad constraints on AI development or existential risk.
At the federal level, the U.S. government’s 2025 AI Action Plan emphasizes deregulation to accelerate innovation and investment in AI infrastructure and talent. While this strategy includes priorities for ensuring AI systems are trustworthy, free from ideological bias, and safeguarded against misuse or malicious exploitation, it appears to focus more on fostering AI competitiveness and mitigating misuse risks rather than directly addressing existential risks posed by AI at a systemic or governance level.
Other U.S. states remain actively engaged in AI legislation, with dozens of bills introduced in 2025 addressing various AI governance aspects. However, there is less evidence from the search results of explicit, comprehensive regulations specifically designed to prevent AI from posing existential risks to humanity.
Guterres believes that without proper safeguards, AI could exacerbate inequality. He expressed the urgent need for countries to regulate AI before it's too late, warning that AI risks are significant and need immediate attention.
As we navigate the complex and uncertain world of AI, it is crucial to remain vigilant and proactive in our efforts to control and mitigate the existential risks that this technology poses. The potential scenarios, such as AI releasing biological weapons in major cities, underscore the urgency of this call to action.
[1] California's Anti-Discrimination Automated Decision-Making Systems (ADS) Regulations: https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/initiatives/2022-001/2022-001%20-%20Automated%20Decision-Making%20Systems.pdf [2] White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Artificial Intelligence (AI) R&D Strategic Plan: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/AI-RDS-Plan-1.pdf [3] U.S. National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7611/text [4] State AI Legislation Tracker 2021: https://www.cvent.com/events/2021-state-ai-legislation-tracker/event-summary-3247748e346f42b68f75875437510583.aspx
- The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to exacerbate inequality and emphasized the importance of creating safeguards to prevent this.
- As the UN Secretary-General warned, AI technologies could silently infect almost everyone without proper controls, and this necessitates immediate attention from global politics, particularly in the realm of general news and artificial-intelligence regulation discussions.
