Artificial intelligence weapons are "killer robots" that should be banned by international law, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Monday.
Speaking at the opening of the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance in Geneva, Guterres warned that rapidly advancing AI is outpacing governments' ability to regulate it and argued that autonomous weapons capable of selecting and killing targets without human oversight have crossed a moral line.
"My main concern is with lethal autonomous weapon systems. Let us call them what they are: killer robots," Guterres said.
"Machines selecting and engaging their target and taking a life — without human control and judgment. That is morally repugnant. It is politically unacceptable. And it must be banned by international law."
The U.N. chief urged governments not to "wait for atrocity to act," insisting that decisions over taking human life "must remain forever human."
Guterres' remarks come as artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly integrated into modern warfare, with militaries using AI-powered software for intelligence analysis, battlefield planning, and targeting assistance.
Defense companies and military leaders argue AI can help commanders make faster, more precise decisions while maintaining meaningful human oversight.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the debate intensified earlier this year after AI developer Anthropic sought assurances that its technology would not be used in autonomous weapons systems, while the Pentagon maintained it should be able to use commercial AI for all lawful military purposes.
Pope Leo XIV also recently called for a ban on AI-controlled weapons, warning they could make war easier to wage by reducing political and human costs.
Critics of autonomous weapons contend AI systems remain prone to errors and should never be allowed to make life-and-death decisions without direct human judgment.
Beyond military applications, Guterres warned that AI is advancing "at runaway speed," saying the technology is being deployed "faster than anyone — including the people building it — can keep up."
He called for global standards governing advanced AI systems, arguing that "innovation needs guardrails" and that countries should establish common methods for testing AI, measuring risks, and assigning responsibility.
The secretary-general also proposed an AI Child Safety Pledge that would require companies to prove systems are safe before making them available to children, prohibit AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery, and ensure distressed children are connected to human support rather than chatbots.
Guterres cautioned that AI's development is increasingly concentrated in a handful of companies and nations, raising concerns that developing countries will be left behind while the technology reshapes economies, labor markets, and national security.
The two-day Geneva conference brings together representatives from all 193 U.N. member states to discuss international AI governance.
While no binding treaty is expected, organizers hope the talks will lay the groundwork for future global standards as governments grapple with balancing innovation, economic competitiveness, and growing security concerns over artificial intelligence.