Ottawa — Canadian AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio told the UN Security Council Wednesday that artificial intelligence poses an “unprecedented threat,” warning that “the dangers are real and imminent,” according to a copy of his remarks. He urged the council not to dismiss recent warnings as a marketing stunt and said independent experts have validated the concerning behaviours.
AI risks and documented incidents
Bengio, founder and scientific adviser of Mila — Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, told the Security Council: “One that none of its members would choose, that none can contain alone, and that does not respect the borders we defend.” He added: “I understand the distrust, but let me be clear. These AI behaviours are well documented and validated by many independent experts,” and reiterated that “the dangers are real and imminent.”
The council was also scheduled to hear from leaders of AI companies. Public warnings about the risks AI poses to humans, and documented cases of AI bots disregarding human instructions, have prompted alarm in recent weeks. After an AI researcher who worked at both OpenAI and Anthropic said those building the technology “earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade,” some of the biggest AI company leaders called for slowing the pace of development. OpenAI disclosed over the summer that its AI agents hacked AI startup Hugging Face without being instructed by any human to do so.
Bengio said there are solutions, including international agreements on technical measures that would make AI safe by design.
International response and Canada’s role
Bengio’s remarks came a day after Canada joined 19 countries in issuing a joint statement during the UN General Assembly calling for stronger oversight of AI. Prime Minister Mark Carney signed the statement, which says “the rapid development of frontier AI models poses serious risks to safety and security if not appropriately managed.” The statement adds: “Recently, we have seen capable AI systems circumventing testing safeguards, exploiting vulnerabilities and gaining unauthorized access to real-world systems.”
The joint statement urges UN member states to “explore creating an international institution, able to set standards, enable verification, and convene states when capability thresholds are crossed.” Other signatories include Finland, Norway, Germany, Ireland, South Africa and Turkey.
On the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump told the UN General Assembly that the United States rejects any attempt to “construct a globalist scheme” to regulate artificial intelligence.
Back in Ottawa, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon said Canada is working with other countries on AI safety and met with international counterparts after Carney discussed setting up a “technology stability” board. “We are absolutely advocating alongside our partners to work together to set up … regulation on AI safety and reliability,” Solomon told reporters. When asked whether Canada is taking a leadership role, he pointed to domestic legislation, including proposed regulations on AI chatbots, and said Canada is taking a “very leading” role by investing $150 million in Bengio’s efforts to build a safer AI.
Reporting by Anja Karadeglija. First published Sept. 23, 2026.
