Burnham Calls for Global AI Regulation at UN Amid Sparse Attendance
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged international cooperation on artificial intelligence risks during a UN General Assembly session, though his speech drew a smaller audience compared to other leaders.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, advocating for global unity in addressing the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Burnham called for coordinated regulation of the rapidly advancing technology, emphasizing its importance for human interests.
Despite the critical nature of the topic, Burnham's address to the UN chamber appeared to have a sparse turnout, with many seats remaining unoccupied. This contrasts with the attendance for speeches by leaders such as Donald Trump, who delivered his remarks earlier in the session. Emmanuel Macron also reportedly attracted a larger crowd, although the UNGA hall often sees lower attendance during individual leader speeches, particularly in evening sessions.
Burnham stated that the future of AI is "too important" to be left solely to the private sector and urged global leaders to establish common rules for its development. He acknowledged public concerns about AI's disruptive potential and the need for governments to guide its evolution.
"We know that AI will also be a source of disruption to the way we live and work – and a multiplier of risk," Burnham said. "We've all heard the warnings, which we must heed. I know how worried people are. So we have to rise to this moment."
He highlighted AI's potential to transform economies and advance medical treatments like curing cancer, provided it is regulated to serve human needs. However, he also cautioned against AI becoming a "multiplier of risk" if not managed appropriately.
Burnham's call for regulation positions him against stances like that of Donald Trump, who has previously dismissed AI risk warnings as a "hoax" intended to hinder American technological leadership.
The speech comes amid a series of alarming warnings from figures in the tech industry. The head of alignment at Anthropic, for instance, recently estimated a 10% chance that AI could lead to human extinction within the next decade.
Burnham's experience at the UNGA echoes that of other political leaders. Keir Starmer faced a similar situation when addressing the assembly in 2024, and Boris Johnson's speech in 2021 also reportedly had low attendance.