The UN chief urges worldwide management of AI to avoid severe unforeseen outcomes.

• On Wednesday, António Guterres, the United Nations chief, urged political and business leaders to prioritize a global strategy for addressing the dual challenges of artificial intelligence and the climate crisis.
• Guterres stated that with each new interaction involving generative AI, there is an increased likelihood of severe unintended consequences.
• On Tuesday, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, emphasized the importance of global coordination on AI and the establishment of a common set of standards and safeguards for the technology.

On Wednesday, António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, urged political and business leaders to prioritize a global strategy for addressing the dual challenges of artificial intelligence and the climate crisis.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Guterres cautioned about the potential of AI causing "serious unintended consequences" due to its rapid advancement.

Guterres stated in his opening remarks that it was great to be back and observe Davos emphasizing the global crisis in trust.

The crisis we are facing is a direct result of a paradox in our world. Despite the existential threats posed by runaway climate chaos and the runaway development of artificial intelligence without proper regulation, we appear unable to act collectively.

The annual WEF meeting's central theme is "Rebuilding Trust," with this year's Davos program emphasizing a "back to basics" approach to open and productive dialogue among policymakers, business leaders, and civil society. AI is a major topic of discussion at the meeting.

The technology of AI can be utilized to benefit humanity in various ways, such as speeding up patient diagnoses, predicting climate change, and combating cyberattacks, as advocates suggest.

On Tuesday, Satya Nadella, CEO, stated that global coordination on AI is necessary, along with agreement on standards and guardrails for the technology.

The tech giant from the United States is a significant contender in the quest to create AI, investing billions of dollars in OpenAI, the company responsible for the widely used chatbot ChatGPT.

The use of generative AI carries the risk of unintended consequences, despite its potential for sustainable development. The International Monetary Fund has warned that it may exacerbate global inequality.

Nearly 40% of jobs worldwide could be impacted by AI, according to a report by the IMF, which also warned that the technology's potential impact on the global labor market may exacerbate overall inequality in most cases.

"Some tech companies are prioritizing profits over human rights, privacy, and social impact, which is widely known," Guterres stated without mentioning any specific companies.

Despite extensive discussions by governments, the media, and leaders in Davos about climate and AI, there is still no effective global strategy to address these issues.

Geopolitical divisions are hindering our ability to unite on global solutions for global challenges, resulting in a loss of trust in governments, institutions, and financial and economic systems.

— CNBC’s Ryan Browne contributed to this report.