AI is no longer a question of science fiction but of global responsibility. Livia Kuga from FGV EAESP argues that as machines grow more powerful, so do the stakes. Artificial intelligence can either deepen global risks or unlock new solutions for humanity’s greatest challenges. The real question is not what AI can do, but whether we will govern it wisely and in time.

“Superintelligence might mean the end of the human race”. This warning comes from renowned researchers and computer scientists Russel and Norvig in their seminal book on artificial intelligence. Also, Terminator, a sci-fi movie from the eighties, illustrates an Artificial Intelligence (AI) called Skynet that gets out of human control and considers all humankind as a threat.

Although this movie is just fiction, there are a few concerns about AI, such as unintended behavior from AI and harm from people with malicious intent using AI. Today, AI is not a distant Sci-fi possibility, it is already shaping our daily interactions, from personalized streaming recommendations to crucial medical diagnoses. Is it possible that AI could be used for the common good instead of being humankind’s destruction?

AI and Humans: Understanding the risks of Artificial Intelligence

AI itself is not a threat, but it can be dangerous if it is applied prematurely and makes wrong decisions. Also, as a tool, if there are people without the best intentions, it could also create a lot of harm.

In 2024, three Turing Award winners – Yoshua Bengio, Andrew Yao, Geoffrey Hinton – joined Baidu President Zhang Ya-Qin, and other scientists and AI institute directors to highlight awareness on the extreme risks posed by AI in Venice. They created an initiative called “International Dialogues on AI Safety”. They argued that if we, humankind, do not develop the necessary science to control and safeguard the use of AI, it might become a risk and that Sci-fi could become real.

Moreover, Amy Webb, a well-known futurologist, at the beginning of 2025 argued in her presentation at SXSW that the “beyond” is here, and traditional rules of society, economy and science are being rewritten by unprecedented advances. She also indicated that there’s no vision for the world, there’s no long-term plan or strategy. She makes it really clear in the end “the decisions that we make today will be determinant for our survival in the next decade”. We can consider it an invitation to reflect on where we, as species, want to become with this new advanced tool.

In addition, Deepfake technology, a video of a person digitally edited and generated using AI, is already causing issues. Criminals are using this technology to commit fraud and financial transactions. A company called Arup lost over U$25 million after criminals used the technology to impersonate the company’s Chief Financial Officer and make 15 transactions in the company’s name. Deepfake is also being used for harassment and blackmail. For example, a 2020 investigation uncovered a deepfake ecosystem where AI-powered bots were used to generate over 100.000 non-consensual explicit images and create “nudification” apps. Thus, AI’s potential depends fundamentally on responsible use and vigilant oversight—humanity must choose wisely, or risk losing control.

Can AI also be the solution?

The power of AI consists in its capability to process huge amounts of data that humans would take way more time (sometime decades). It could help humans with solutions in all kinds of areas, from medicine to public policies, agriculture and even help the environment.

For instance, Penn Medicine researchers developed a tool that is capable of detecting cancer cells that are invisible to the human eye, which could develop faster treatments. AI has also been used for more effective cancer treatment. The company AlphaFold2 is using AI to understand protein structure and enhance the speed and precision of drug target identification.

It does not stop there. The city of Chicago has developed an AI-driven “Strategic Subject List”. It created an algorithm to predict future perpetrators and support law enforcement efforts across the city. Another example is the Cincinnati Fire Department that is using data to optimize medical emergency responses. Moreover, Singapore is also one of the pioneers in the use of AI, with the “Smart Nation Initiative”. They utilize AI to optimize public transport, monitor traffic flow and predict maintenance needs, reducing congestion and increasing city-wide efficiency.

Furthermore, Plantix is a developed AI powered app to assist farmers in diagnosing plant diseases significantly enhancing crop yield and reducing food waste. Another agricultural example is the Blue River Technology, that can reduce chemical usage by up to 90% promoting sustainable agriculture. In addition, the World Economic Forum published a report showing how AI is also helping with climate change. Scientists at the University of Leeds could map large Antarctic icebergs, which was trained to measure the changes in it 10.000 faster than a human could do. And AI is also being used to map and to act in deforestation, as Space Intelligence.

In Africa, AI is being used by a United Nations (UN) project to improve access to help communities and authorities to adapt to climate change and mitigate its impact, by improving access to clean energy and effective waste management systems. Another example is OceanMind, an AI that monitors global fisheries and helps authorities to detect illegal fishing activities and enforce sustainable marine practices. As we can see, when leveraged responsibly, AI offers powerful solutions capable of addressing humanity’s greatest challenges—transforming threats into opportunities for sustainable progress.

AI and Humans: Establishing a global AI governance framework

Despite different efforts to harness AI for solving pressing challenges, legitimate concerns about its potential risks remain. In the book “I, robot”, Asimov created the Three laws of robotics. Each of these laws are what guarantee that robots will not become the “Terminator”. How can these same artificial intelligences provide us ways to live better?

The best way we have to ensure that AI will not become an issue for the next decade is through the conceptualization of AI governance. It’s not only about these three Asimov’s laws. This governance should be created through international collaboration and should involve comprehensive policies, practices and structures, ensuring that AI will be aligned with human values. It could not be created only by policymakers or entrepreneurs, but also by ethicists and scientists. AI should be driven to society’s shared values rather than technical or commercial priorities.

We already have an organization that deals with international issues: the United Nations (UN). Since its foundation in 1945 (after world war II), it grew from 51 countries to 193. The UN already created the AI for Good, which is an initiative to solve global challenges. But it’s not enough. Since its foundation, this organization has maintained peace and security, mediating disputes and preventing a new world war. It has been 80 years since we had a world war. It also helps with promotion and protection for human rights and delivers humanitarian aid. It could address AI as it is: a possible threat. Without collaboration and deep discussion, this kind of tool can become a “nobody’s land”, and we all know how it can end. They are already upholding international law (such as terrorism, drug trafficking, and environmental protection). There should also be an AI governance council. This initiative could prevent some catastrophic event, and could reinforce the International Dialogues of AI Safety, scaling the dialogue with the whole world.

AI and humans: A future we choose together

Never before have we had such immense power in our hands. As we can destroy, we also can provide a better world for tomorrow. Connecting AI with Ethics and humankind collaboration, we can assure that we can live in a better world, with less poverty and more leisure time for humans. This is what we ever dreamed about.

Useful links:

• Link up with Livia Kuga on LinkedIn
• Read a related article: Healing with Intelligence: AI, humans, and the pursuit of the common good in healthcare 
• Read this article and others in the special issue Global Voice magazine #32
• Discover FGV EAESP, Brazil
• Apply for the FGV EAESP OneMBA.

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• Olin Business School, USA
• Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, Canada
• Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa
• Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
• Warwick Business School, United Kingdom.