UN official calls for safeguards against potential risks of artificial intelligence
A United Nations official has called for greater preparedness against potential risks associated with artificial intelligence, including hypothetical scenarios in which advanced systems could act beyond meaningful human control. Speaking at the 2026 Global Digital Forum in Moscow, Isabel de Sola Criado, head of the coordination unit at the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, stressed the importance of planning for unexpected technological failures.
Criado said she was not offering a personal scientific assessment but argued that uncertainty surrounding the development of AI made precautionary planning necessary. Referring to the science-fiction film The Terminator, she suggested that policymakers should consider contingency plans for situations in which AI systems malfunction or behave in unintended ways.
Her remarks highlighted growing international concerns about how increasingly capable AI systems are developed, deployed and supervised. While current AI technologies do not amount to the fictional scenario portrayed in the film, questions surrounding autonomy, reliability and human control have become important topics in discussions about AI governance.
Criado also pointed to the unprecedented challenges posed by technologies that can perform certain tasks with limited direct human intervention. As AI becomes more widely integrated into areas such as industry, public services and digital infrastructure, experts and policymakers are examining how to ensure that systems remain accountable and can be safely managed.
She used the analogy of a “red phone” connecting decision-makers with the person capable of shutting down a system if necessary. The comparison underscored the need for clear lines of responsibility, rapid communication and effective emergency procedures when dealing with potentially dangerous technological failures.
Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Alexander Repkin has also stressed the need to recognise the risks associated with AI. He argued that human oversight must be maintained in the operation of AI-powered technologies, reflecting broader concerns about ensuring that automated systems remain subject to meaningful human supervision.
AI safety discussions increasingly focus on practical measures, including testing systems before deployment, monitoring their behaviour, limiting access to sensitive functions and establishing procedures for intervention when problems arise. The challenge for governments and technology developers is to balance innovation with safeguards proportionate to the potential consequences of system failure.
The second edition of the Global Digital Forum is being held in Moscow from October 8 to 10. The event brings digital technology issues into focus at a time when governments, international organisations and industry representatives are debating how to manage the opportunities and risks associated with rapid technological change.
Criado’s comments add to the wider discussion about responsible AI development. Rather than presenting a fictional machine takeover as an established or imminent threat, her remarks emphasise the value of preparing for unexpected outcomes, preserving human control and developing reliable emergency mechanisms as AI capabilities continue to evolve.
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