An Uncontrollable AI Needs Universal Rules, Says UN
Techstrong.ai, Tuesday, September 8th, 2026
UN human rights chief Volker Turk calls for binding AI rules, independent oversight and safety guarantees, warning AI is becoming too powerful.
Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on September 7, High Commissioner Volker Turk called for binding rules, independent verification and cast-iron safety guarantees for AI.
He warned that AI able to escape testing environments or resist shutdown is too powerful, apparently referencing July's Hugging Face incident involving OpenAI agents.
Turk criticized the concentration of AI power among a handful of men and tech companies and said human rights must guide governance. He also said he was horrified by reports of AI-enabled autonomous drones used in the Russia-Ukraine war.