Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan just dropped a reality check at the UN General Assembly, reminding us that in a world of superpower squabbles, the UN is still the only neutral turf where everyone gets a say—small nations included. And tucked into his list of global headaches? Artificial intelligence, right alongside climate chaos and pandemics. It's a smart nod: AI isn't just a tech toy; it's a shared sandbox where one kid's breakthrough could accidentally bury everyone's sandcastles.
Think about it pragmatically—AI's borderless nature means no single country, not even the big players, can hog the wheel. We've seen how algorithms trained in one corner of the world can amplify biases or spark job upheavals elsewhere. Balakrishnan's call for multilateralism hits home here: without a rules-based huddle, we're risking a Wild West of AI development, where veto-wielding giants like the P5 could stall progress on ethical guidelines or fair access. Imagine a UN Security Council debate on AI safety turning into a veto fest—Russia blocks a resolution on deepfakes, the US nixes one on data privacy because it cramps Big Tech's style. Hilarious in a dystopian sitcom, disastrous in reality.
But here's the intriguing flip: small states like Singapore are proving they're not just spectators. They've bridged gaps on cyber norms and high-seas treaties—why not AI? Picture nimble players like them pushing for pragmatic pacts on AI transparency, where open-source models get a global thumbs-up without the IP wars. It's not about utopian harmony; it's about realistic guardrails that let innovation thrive without the boom-or-bust roulette.
Critically, Balakrishnan warns the post-WWII order is fraying, with US transactionalism and China's ascent gumming up consensus. For AI, that means we can't afford complacency—superpowers might prioritize national edge over collective smarts. Yet, his optimism about reform and small-state agency is a pragmatic pep talk: lean in, build bridges, and demand a UN that's fit for 2025's tech tidal wave. If we do, AI could evolve from a contested commons to a collaborative powerhouse. Otherwise, we're all just debugging a glitchy global system—one veto at a time. Source: Weakening of UN would be dire for small states like Singapore, says Vivian Balakrishnan
