UN rights chief warns over 60 conflicts rage worldwide, AI poses existential threat

September 8, 2026 at 08:33 AM2 min

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva that more than 60 conflicts are now raging worldwide, the highest number since World War II. He warned that unregulated artificial intelligence could become an existential threat to humanity. Türk called for ironclad safety guarantees and joint action by states hosting AI technologies and those in their supply chains.

Key Facts

More than 60 armed conflicts are currently taking place worldwide, the highest number since the end of World War II.
Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed deep concern over the weakening of international law and the rise in armed conflicts.
Türk warned that AI systems could become so powerful that developers lose control, and called for ironclad safety guarantees before it is too late.
He urged states hosting AI technologies and those in their supply chains to work together to set clear limits on the spread of the new technology.

Conflict Surge

More than 60 conflicts are now raging on the planet, a level not seen since the end of World War II, according to the UN. Speaking at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed deep concern over the growing number of armed conflicts and the weakening of international law worldwide.

AI Threat

Türk also voiced concern over the use of artificial intelligence in military operations, especially the development of weapons capable of deciding to take human life without human intervention. He joined increasingly frequent calls to strengthen oversight of AI, warning that the revolutionary technology, if left unsupervised, could turn into an existential threat to humanity. The UN High Commissioner allowed for the possibility that AI systems could become so powerful that developers would no longer be able to control them. He called on countries where AI technologies are located, as well as states involved in their supply chains, to work together to establish clear boundaries for the spread of the new technology.