Guterres: Climate crisis, uncontrolled AI possible existential threats

FABRICE COFFRINI/ AFP

The climate crisis and an unlimited expansion of artificial intelligence could be existential threats for humanity, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday, adding AI should serve humanity and not the other way around.

"AI can be deceptive, it can disrupt economies," he said during a speech at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Switzerland.

On other issues, Guterres said Iran must make a first step towards improving relations with countries in the region and the United States by making it clear they do not aim to develop nuclear weapons.

"The most relevant question is Iran and relations between Iran, Israel and the United States," Guterres said.

"Here my hope is that the Iranians understand that it is important to once and for all make it clear that they will renounce to have nuclear weapons, at the same time that they engage constructively with the other countries of the region."

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