President Lee Jae-myung on the 24th (local time) presided over an open debate of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at U.N. headquarters. Lee is the first Korean leader to preside over an open debate from the chair's seat in a U.N. meeting hall. Korea holds the UNSC presidency this year.
After selecting the theme "AI and international peace and security," Lee struck the gavel to open the discussion. Leaders from each country greeted Lee and the Korean government by saying, "Thank you for presiding over the meeting," and then delivered their respective remarks.
When it was Lee's turn to speak, the president mentioned "K-pop Demon Hunters," which has sparked a recent global craze. He said, "Professor Geoffrey Hinton's line that 'today's AI is like a tiger cub' comes to mind. A tiger cub can grow into a fierce beast that will devour us, or it can become the lovable 'Duffy' from 'K-pop Demon Hunters,'" adding, "Depending on how we handle AI, a completely different future will unfold."
Lee warned, "If we fail to prepare for change and are dragged along, an extreme technology gap will function as a 'silicon curtain' that surpasses the 'iron curtain,' deepening global inequality and imbalance."
Lee also said, "If used well, AI can be an excellent tool to prevent conflict and maintain peace, such as monitoring the spread of WMDs (weapons of mass destruction), but if we lose control, we cannot avoid a dystopian future flooded with disinformation and surges in terrorism and cyberattacks."
Lee said, "In an era when AI capability equates to national power, retracing the path of technological progress like the past 'Luddite movement' is neither possible nor realistic," adding, "It is wise to compete for the national interest while cooperating for the benefit of all."
Lee said, "The only way to turn the changes of an AI era—where light and shadow coexist—into opportunity is for the international community to unite and establish the principle of 'responsible use,'" diagnosing, "If, as many experts warn, artificial intelligence were to drive humanity to extinction, it would be because we failed to forge common norms."
He emphasized, "Governments, academia, industry, and civil society must put their heads together and pool wisdom to achieve innovation toward 'AI for all' and 'human-centered, inclusive AI.'"
Lee said that as a "global responsible power," Korea will lead cooperation so that AI becomes an excellent tool for building a sustainable future for humanity. Regarding the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, he noted, "We are pushing for the adoption of the 'APEC AI Initiative' so that artificial intelligence can contribute to human prosperity," and introduced, "We are working to make an 'AI basic society' and 'AI for all,' where everyone shares the benefits of technological progress, the new normal of a new era."
He stressed, "Standing before a civilizational great transition that AI will bring, humanity is at an important inflection point where we must defend the universal values we have upheld together throughout long history," adding, "Let us not shy away from our calling of the times and turn the changes AI will bring into a springboard for humanity's renewed leap."