OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs call on UN Security Council for global AI standards

OpenAI chief Sam Altman and Anthropic founder Dario Amodei addressed the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, urging world leaders to develop international standards for artificial intelligence. Both executives warned that without coordinated oversight, AI could pose a significant threat to global security.

Altman, speaking in person, advocated for standards that would measure AI capabilities, assess risks, evaluate safeguards and ensure meaningful human oversight. He emphasized the need for rapid, accurate reporting of AI incidents so that “the world can learn from failures before they become catastrophes,” and suggested secure channels for governments to share information on emerging threats. He also called for decisions to be made by democratic institutions accountable to their citizens, a stance that could limit cooperation with countries pursuing rapid AI development.

Amodei, appearing via video, proposed three steps for international cooperation: a ban on using AI to create biological weapons, verification mechanisms allowing nations to confirm each other’s commitments, and common testing standards together with a notification system for AI security incidents. > "I believe that this is the most important global security issue facing the world today," he said, urging participants to set aside differences to confront the shared challenge.

Both leaders cautioned against extreme positions in the AI debate. Altman warned that “any chance of an AI-caused catastrophe is not acceptable,” but also rejected both “doomerism” and “blind optimism,” saying that extreme views hinder effective problem-solving. No formal agreements were expected from the meeting, though an OpenAI spokesperson indicated the session could help generate ideas to advance the conversation.