UN human rights chief: AI can become a "modern Frankenstein monster"

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, warned this Monday about the dangers that the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) can pose to fundamental freedoms, warning that "it has the potential to become a modern Frankenstein's monster." "Without proper safeguards and regulations, AI systems have the potential to become a modern Frankenstein's monster, as in Mary Shelley's famous novel, conceived a few kilometers from here," it was noted at the opening day of the Business and Human Rights Forum, which is being held this week at the UN's European headquarters in Geneva. Türk argued that generative AI "has enormous potential, but its exploitation for purely political or economic purposes can manipulate, distort, and distract."

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"Threats to various human rights, including privacy, political participation, freedom of expression, and labor, are clear and evident," warned the UN human rights chief. "When powerful tech giants introduce new technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence, human rights can become the first victim," Türk stated. Faced with this, he warned, "governments have a responsibility to unite to avoid that outcome and companies can choose a different path, as some have already done, taking this opportunity to develop digital technologies that promote human rights and serve the public good." Another business model he criticized was that of social media platforms, which "are already fueling polarization, extremism, and exclusion," something which, he warned, many countries are unable to deal with. In the beginning of his speech, he stated that since the United Nations was born 80 years ago, the power of corporations "has increased considerably, largely based on the accumulation of personal and business wealth in the hands of a few actors". In some cases, he stated, "this power surpasses that of the economies of entire countries" and "if it is not limited by law, it can lead to abuse and subjugation." Türk added that corporate power imbalances are also manifested in the climate crisis and that "the poor results achieved at COP30 in Belém illustrate this point." "The fossil fuel industry is generating huge profits while devastating some of the world's poorest communities and countries," said Türk, who called for "true accountability for this injustice."