The United Nations is warning that artificial intelligence is developing faster than global rules can keep up, raising concerns about safety, misinformation, child protection, and the concentration of power among a small number of countries and companies.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres made the warning during the first government-level Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva. He said AI has the power to reshape economies, jobs, elections, education, and security, but argued that innovation needs stronger guardrails before the risks grow harder to control.

A major concern is how children are interacting with AI tools. UN officials have called for stronger protections to prevent children from being exposed to harmful content, manipulation, or unsafe AI systems. UNICEF has also warned that children are adopting AI tools much faster than adults, making child safety one of the biggest issues in AI regulation.

The UN dialogue is not expected to create a binding treaty immediately. Instead, it is aimed at building international guidelines and pushing governments toward shared rules. A follow-up session is expected in New York in 2027.

For the tech world, the message is clear: AI is no longer just a business race. It is becoming a global governance issue.