UNITED NATIONS — OpenAI called on Monday for the United States to lead an international effort to develop global technical standards for frontier artificial intelligence, including recursive self-improvement, the capacity of systems to autonomously enhance their own capabilities.
The appeal came as AI emerged as a central topic of discussion at this week’s high-level UN General Assembly, following warnings from several industry leaders — among them OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman — that the increasingly powerful technology could soon improve on its own and slip beyond human control.
Common Measurements and Incident Reporting
In a blog post published as world leaders gathered at the United Nations, OpenAI said it was essential to build a mechanism that would facilitate complementary national and international frontier standards, alongside common measurements and incident-reporting protocols to enable better collective action.
“Leading now will determine whether the United States shapes the global AI framework or watches a fragmented, uneven, and conflict-ridden system take hold around it,” OpenAI wrote. “This will also determine whether advanced AI strengthens the networks that the United States and its allies already have; failing to lead may weaken them.”
What ‘Pacing’ AI Development Means
Amid concerns about the long-term risks AI may pose to humanity, the industry has increasingly discussed intentionally slowing development, a concept known as “pacing.”
OpenAI sought to define the term in its post: “Pacing AI development is not about maintaining a predetermined speed. Technically, it is about ensuring that alignment research and deployment of that research stay ahead of capabilities.” Alignment refers to ensuring that AI systems act in accordance with human values.
Security Council Briefing Set for Wednesday
Altman is scheduled to brief the 15-member UN Security Council on Wednesday on AI and international security. The meeting was convened by France, which holds the council presidency for September, and will be chaired by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.
The Security Council, charged with maintaining international peace and security, first met on the risks of artificial intelligence in 2023, when China warned the technology should not become a “runaway horse” and the United States cautioned against its use to censor or repress populations.
Washington Resists Calls to Slow Down
The administration of US President Donald Trump has rejected calls to slow AI development, wary that any pause would only give China room to close the gap in a technology it views as central to national and economic security.
Trump said earlier this month that the United States already has guardrails in place to regulate AI development, adding that China would benefit from doubts being cast on the sector. The president is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week in Washington.
