United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the current generation may be the last with a real opportunity to establish global rules governing artificial intelligence and called for urgent international action. Speaking on Sunday via a post on X, Guterres emphasized that the world is at a critical turning point as AI systems grow more powerful and widespread.

"We may be the last generation able to set the terms on which humanity and machines coexist," Guterres wrote. He stressed that AI must be governed to ensure safety and benefit, stating, "If AI is to be powerful, it must be governed. If AI is to be trusted, those who build it must be accountable. If AI is to be global, it must be fair."

The UN Chief further cautioned that "If AI is to serve the future, it must not consume the future." He urged a collective approach to development, calling on leaders to ensure AI is built "by humanity, with humanity, for all humanity."

Diverging Views on Regulation

The warning comes amid varying perspectives on AI regulation globally. Former White House AI policy adviser Sriram Krishnan stated that the White House would not pursue a centralized AI licensing system. He rejected proposals for an FDA-style regulator, arguing that the administration opposed "burdensome, onerous, bureaucratic red tape" and efforts to "pick winners and losers" in the industry.

Box CEO Aaron Levie warned that uncertainty around AI governance could accelerate a global shift toward open-weight models. He noted that concerns over models being "pulled back" are pushing governments toward sovereign AI strategies, increasing geopolitical risks tied to AI access.

Calls for Binding Regulation

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei argued that advanced AI systems cannot be safely managed by governments or corporations alone. He called for stronger checks, mandatory testing, and the ability to block or reverse high-risk deployments. Amodei warned that frontier AI could become "so powerful that it cannot safely be fully entrusted to either governments or companies," urging "more serious and binding regulation."

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on major AI companies to publicly disclose the full environmental impact of their data centers, warning that rising demand for land, water, and electricity is creating hidden global costs. Guterres emphasized that transparency is necessary to ensure the burden of these demands is not shifted onto those least able to bear it.

Call for Transparency

In a post on X on Tuesday, Guterres stated that AI data centers are "hungry for land, water & power." He called for every major AI company to disclose the environmental impact of its systems as a matter of transparency. "No more hidden costs. No more shifting the burden onto those least able to bear it. It is time to come clean," he wrote.

Industry Perspectives on Water Use

The debate over environmental impact includes differing views on resource consumption. On Monday, Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk supported Nvidia Corp’s assertion that AI data centers use a small share of U.S. water. Nvidia cited estimates of about 0.2% of daily consumption and highlighted improved cooling technologies, such as liquid and dry cooling, that can significantly reduce water needs.

Regulatory and Community Concerns

Concerns extend beyond water usage to broader financial and environmental impacts on communities. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) raised issues regarding higher utility costs, pollution, and water problems affecting residents near data centers. She argued that local communities should not subsidize the energy demands of Big Tech.

In response to growing opposition, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox introduced stricter rules for AI data center development. The policy requires closer scrutiny of water use, electricity demand, and environmental effects. It also applies to the Kevin O’Leary-backed Stratos Project, aiming to protect local resources and increase public oversight.