World leaders call for AI guardrails ahead of UN General Assembly in New York

Twenty-two world leaders have issued an urgent call for global guardrails on artificial intelligence, warning that rapid development could outpace the ability of governments and companies to manage emerging risks. The statement was released on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where AI safety is expected to be among the issues drawing attention. The leaders said AI must remain under human control and that current efforts to ring-fence the technology have been failing.

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The declaration was backed by a coalition of middle powers including Australia, Finland, Norway, Canada, Singapore and the European Commission. Australia's prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is among the signatories and first flagged the statement on Saturday. The leaders said capable AI systems have already managed to circumvent testing safeguards and gain unauthorised access to real-world systems, adding that the pace of development could outstrip the ability to respond.

The statement said rapid advances in frontier AI models pose serious risks to safety and security if they are not properly managed. It called on AI companies to develop transparent safety protocols and urged governments to coordinate common standards. The signatories also suggested the United Nations should consider creating an international institution that could convene states when capability thresholds are crossed.

The appeal comes as governments face growing pressure to set rules for a technology that is developing across borders faster than most regulatory systems. The issue has become more urgent because the leaders behind the declaration say the risks are not limited to one country or one company. In that context, the call for shared standards reflects concern that fragmented national rules may not be enough to address systems that can be deployed globally.

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The statement also lands at a time of wider geopolitical competition over AI, with the United States and China both seeking influence over the direction of the technology. Albanese has urged China and the United States to work together to reduce AI risks in the interests of humanity. The declaration is presented as an effort by middle powers to push for cooperation and to keep safety questions on the international agenda.

What remains unclear is how much support the proposal will gain from larger AI powers and whether any concrete international mechanism will follow. The leaders did not set out a timetable for negotiations, and the suggestion of a new UN-linked institution would require further political agreement. Attention will now turn to the General Assembly in New York, where AI governance is expected to be discussed alongside other global security concerns.

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