Artificial Intelligence Takes Centre Stage at UN General Assembly

Artificial intelligence has emerged as a major theme at this year's United Nations General Assembly, with multiple world leaders using their addresses to discuss the technology's risks and opportunities.

Among those addressing the issue was new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who joined other heads of state and government in speaking about the growing global impact of AI during the high-level gathering in New York.

The prominence of AI on the General Assembly agenda reflects the technology's rapid expansion into economic, security and social policy discussions worldwide. Governments have increasingly grappled with how to regulate AI systems while also competing to capture the economic benefits the technology is expected to generate.

The UN has in recent years sought to play a more active role in shaping international norms around AI, including through discussions on governance frameworks intended to manage risks such as misinformation, job displacement and security concerns, while supporting innovation.

Further details of the specific proposals raised by leaders during this year's session were not immediately available.