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AI could pose ‘existential’ risk to humanity, UN rights chief warns

By Thomson Reuters Sep 7, 2026 | 3:51 AM

GENEVA, Sept 7 (Reuters) – U.N. rights chief Volker Turk warned on ​Monday that ‌artificial intelligence could become powerful enough to threaten humanity, and said he would ‌urge ​companies in ⁠the coming ⁠days to reduce the risks.

“I share the concerns of industry insiders ​that advanced AI could pose an existential ⁠risk to ⁠humanity,” Volker Turk ​told the U.N. Human ​Rights Council in Geneva ‌in a sweeping speech ahead of the start of his ⁠second term next month.

“I am calling here, today, for an ⁠all-out ‌effort to ⁠put cast iron ​guarantees ‌in place around ​the safety ⁠and security of AI, before it is too late.”

(Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Friederike ​Heine)