New york: Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi has issued a warning about the potential dangers associated with artificial intelligence (AI), despite its significant advantages. “The enormous benefits of AI are self-evident,” Siddiqi stated during the Security Council High-Level Open Debate on “Artificial Intelligence and International Peace and Security” held at the UN Headquarters.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Siddiqi emphasized that AI holds the potential to be a powerful tool for conflict prevention, peacekeeping, post-conflict recovery, and more precise humanitarian responses due to its data-driven insights. However, he also highlighted the pernicious risks posed by AI, calling for appropriate policy responses at both national and international levels to guard against these dangers.
Siddiqi expressed concerns about the misuse of AI in creating unaccountable autonomous weapons, disinformation campaigns, deep-fake videos, and algorithmic bias. These threats, he warned, could undermine the fabric of national and international peace and security, erode trust, create instability, and disrupt democratic processes.
Addressing the Security Council, Siddiqi noted that Bangladesh, as the most densely populated country globally with a substantial youth demographic, faces unique challenges. He explained that the high population density allows online disinformation to spread rapidly, leading to severe consequences in the physical world. He stressed the importance of international cooperation to tackle disinformation, especially when orchestrated from outside national borders.
Siddiqi urged the United Nations to ensure that all Member States play an active role in combating cross-border disinformation efforts. He also suggested that the UN could facilitate greater cooperation between global technology companies and governments. Additionally, he advocated for member states to share experiences in educating their populations to recognize AI-driven misinformation.
Highlighting the role of humans in ensuring responsibility and accountability, Siddiqi called on states to adhere to international law. He encouraged the Security Council to promote transparency, accountability, and human oversight in AI deployment for peacekeeping and peace building.
Siddiqi welcomed the ongoing UN and multilateral initiatives, including the Secretary-General’s call for a Global Digital Compact, the launch of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, and the establishment of an independent international scientific panel. He emphasized that these initiatives are vital not only for peace and security but also for ensuring that AI’s benefits are accessible to all and its threats do not disproportionately affect the most vulnerable.
Concluding his remarks, Siddiqi affirmed Bangladesh’s readiness to contribute to these global initiatives.