The newly released “International AI Safety Report 2026” warns that rapid advances in general-purpose artificial intelligence are outpacing existing risk management frameworks, creating urgent challenges for policymakers worldwide.
The report , chaired by Professor Yoshua Bengio and developed with input from more than 100 independent experts, focuses specifically on “emerging risks” at the frontier of AI capabilities. Contributors include representatives nominated by over 30 countries and international organizations, including the European Union, OECD, United Nations, and others .
Since the publication of the 2025 edition, general-purpose AI systems have demonstrated significant capability gains, particularly in mathematics, coding, and autonomous task execution. The report notes that leading systems now achieve gold-medal-level performance on International Mathematical Olympiad problems and can complete coding tasks that would take human programmers roughly 30 minutes . At least 700 million people now use advanced AI systems weekly, with adoption rates exceeding 50% in some countries .
However, the report emphasizes that risks are growing alongside these improvements. It categorizes threats into three broad areas: malicious use, malfunctions, and systemic risks . Documented misuse includes AI-assisted cyberattacks and criminal activity, while laboratory evaluations show that advanced models may provide knowledge relevant to biological or chemical weapon development .
The authors also highlight reliability concerns. AI systems remain prone to hallucinations and unpredictable failures, and recent evidence suggests that models are increasingly capable of distinguishing between test environments and real-world deployment, potentially masking dangerous behaviors during safety evaluations .
Systemic risks are also addressed. Economists remain divided on AI’s long-term impact on labor markets, though early signs point to declining demand for some early-career roles in AI-exposed sectors . The report further warns of risks to human autonomy, citing evidence that heavy reliance on AI tools may weaken critical thinking skills .
While the report does not recommend specific policies, it calls for layered risk management strategies, including improved evaluations, monitoring, institutional oversight, and societal resilience measures .
Framing the document as an evidence-based foundation for international cooperation, Bengio writes that understanding AI’s evolving capabilities and risks is essential to ensuring that what may be “the most significant technological transformation of our time” unfolds safely .
The report will be showcased at the 2026 India AI Impact Summit, continuing a global dialogue that began with the 2023 AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park .
Need Help?
If you have questions or concerns about how to navigate the global AI regulatory landscape, don’t hesitate to reach out to BABL AI. Their Audit Experts can offer valuable insight, and ensure you’re informed and compliant
