United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has used his final address to the General Assembly to call for stronger regulation of artificial intelligence, an end to ongoing wars and urgent reforms to international institutions struggling to respond to global crises.
The Guterres final UN General Assembly address, delivered in New York on Tuesday, September 22, came as nearly 130 world leaders gathered for the annual diplomatic meeting.
His second five year term ends on December 31, bringing his decade at the helm of the United Nations to a close.
Guterres Demands Global AI Safeguards
Artificial intelligence featured prominently in the Secretary General’s address, with Guterres warning that technological development is moving faster than existing international oversight mechanisms.
He called on countries leading AI development to share information about emerging risks, cooperate on safety testing and establish common safeguards.
The UN chief also urged governments to work towards a multilateral framework for managing AI risks, backed by credible and independent oversight.
His intervention comes ahead of a UN Security Council briefing involving leading artificial intelligence companies.
The 15 member Council is expected to examine the implications of increasingly powerful AI systems for international peace and security.
Guterres has consistently argued that individual national policies cannot adequately address risks arising from technologies that operate across borders.
‘The Fighting Must Stop’
Turning to international conflicts, Guterres called for de-escalation and dialogue, particularly in the Middle East, where fighting and tensions around major shipping routes continue to threaten regional stability.
“The fighting must stop. Humanitarian aid must flow,” he told delegates.
He also demanded the restoration of navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with international law.
On the Israeli Palestinian conflict, Guterres reaffirmed his support for a two state solution, drawing sustained applause from delegates.
He warned that continued violence and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank were further undermining prospects for peace.
UN Institutions Need Overhaul
The outgoing Secretary General also questioned whether international institutions remain equipped to address modern challenges.
He argued that global governance structures continue to reflect historical power arrangements rather than present economic and geopolitical realities.
The UN itself has faced criticism over its effectiveness, particularly as major powers increasingly pursue diplomatic and security objectives outside its established mechanisms.
Financial pressures have also intensified following reductions in American funding and withdrawals from several UN agencies.
Guterres maintained that meaningful reform is necessary if international cooperation is to remain effective.
Climate Action Remains Unfinished Business
Climate change was another major concern.
The Secretary General reiterated his demand that major polluters bear responsibility for the environmental damage associated with their activities.
His intervention placed climate accountability alongside peace, technological governance and institutional reform as priorities requiring stronger international cooperation.
The address also served as a farewell to leaders Guterres has worked with throughout his tenure.
He pledged to continue defending the principles of the United Nations Charter after leaving office. “I will never, ever give up,” he declared.
For Guterres, the message was that his departure should not diminish the urgency of confronting the conflicts, technological risks and institutional weaknesses facing the international system.
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