UN Chief Warns AI Could Cut Entire Populations Off From Water, Heating and Money 'At A Click'

UN chief Volker Türk warns unchecked AI could undermine privacy, equality, and public debate as oversight struggles to keep pace. (Credit: LinkedIn)

Entire populations could one day be cut off from communication, clean water, heating, and financial services 'at the click of a button,' the United Nations human rights chief has warned, as increasingly powerful AI systems raise concerns over the safety of critical infrastructure.

Volker Türk issued the warning at an AI and Human Rights Summit in Oxford on 5 October, saying the world was running out of time to put effective safeguards in place as artificial intelligence advances at an unprecedented pace.