FM Bourita warns of AI’s Dual Potential at UN Security Council Debate
New York, The Gulf Observer: Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, underscored both the promise and peril of artificial intelligence (AI) during a UN Security Council debate on “Artificial Intelligence and International Peace and Security: Addressing Complexities, Multiple Impacts, and Responsible Use,” held on Wednesday in New York.
Bourita cautioned that while AI offers significant benefits for humanity, its misuse already threatens global stability through unchecked exploitation. He pointed to mounting risks, including advanced cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, the spread of false content at scale through generative AI, and the use of such technologies by extremist groups for interference and radicalization. These dangers, he stressed, demand urgent international action to prevent AI from becoming a weapon of division.
At the same time, the minister highlighted AI’s transformative potential if used responsibly. He noted that AI could support early warning systems to detect instability, combat digital disinformation, and strengthen UN peacekeeping operations. It could also help address global security challenges linked to climate change, including water scarcity and food insecurity, by enhancing crisis prediction and management.
To mitigate risks, Bourita urged the UN and its member states to consider a framework similar to Security Council Resolution 1540, which restricts the spread of weapons of mass destruction to non-state actors. A comparable global approach, he argued, would help prevent dangerous AI applications from falling into the wrong hands.
The foreign minister reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to promoting an inclusive and ethical system of AI governance. Such a framework, he said, should uphold international law, combat discrimination, ensure equitable access to technology, safeguard the environment, and foster innovation. Morocco, he added, will continue to engage in multilateral partnerships to ensure AI serves as a tool for peace and sustainable development rather than instability.
Concluding his remarks, Bourita emphasized that ignoring AI’s risks is no longer an option, stressing that the stakes involve both international security and the dignity of people worldwide. Morocco, he affirmed, stands ready to work with global partners to shape an AI future that unites and strengthens humanity.
