Russia’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, has warned that the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and escalating global competition in the sector could threaten humanity’s very existence.
Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on Wednesday, Polyansky urged the international community to implement safeguards and regulations as nations race to advance AI technology.
“An AI race – the ambition to outpace geopolitical rivals by rapidly developing a technology that is not fully understood or controlled, without sufficient AI safety measures for all stakeholders – could, much like an arms race, endanger humanity’s very existence,” he said. He added that AI tools could influence public opinion, sway election outcomes through the spread of misinformation, and disrupt critical infrastructure.
While Polyansky acknowledged it may be premature to address the issue directly at the Security Council, he called for broader debates in inclusive forums and expressed Russia’s support for a UN-led role in AI governance.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres echoed similar concerns, highlighting AI’s dual potential. “While AI can help tackle food insecurity, de-mining, and conflict prevention, without guardrails, it can also be weaponized,” he said. Guterres noted that the UN General Assembly recently created a global forum and an expert panel to coordinate AI governance and international cooperation.
The global AI boom accelerated following the debut of ChatGPT three years ago, with major tech companies investing heavily in the sector. Public filings indicate that Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet have spent tens of billions of dollars on AI this year alone, with plans to invest over $400 billion by 2026. Experts warn that the rapid expansion could create a financial bubble while also presenting existential risks, including engineered pandemics and autonomous AI systems operating without sufficient safeguards.
Polyansky’s warning underscores growing international concern that unchecked AI development could become a destabilizing factor in global politics, mirroring historical arms races.
