New challenges to global security in the AI era

What is the biggest human rights and security challenge facing the world today? In an interview with CGTN at the 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance on Thursday, Professor Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, shared his insights. He pointed out that safety and security issues have become prominent worldwide, with AI-related risks emerging as new threats to global security.

The professor said that while artificial intelligence delivers remarkable convenience and momentum to social development, it also widens the development gap between nations. The widespread hype over AI has also distracted public attention from fundamental human rights concerns that deserve more focus, he added. 

To tackle the crises brought by AI, Wang emphasized the necessity of adopting a collaborative global governance paradigm. Most importantly, he said, the international community must take firm steps to prevent AI from being weaponized and used as a tool for war, for such misuse will trigger unprecedented disasters and severely undermine global peace and stability.

Wang also noted that human rights are never merely individual rights; they also embrace collective rights, which are closely bound up with the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity. All nations and peoples share common interests and destinies, so the development and regulation of AI must serve the well-being of all humanity, he added. 

He said, "I think human beings are the end not the means. So, AI is just one of the ways to achieve the goals of human beings." Therefore, he said, amid the rapid advancement of technology, it is vital for all parties to properly govern AI and always prioritize people's interests, ensuring that this powerful technology moves in a direction that safeguards human rights and benefits the whole world.