Limbless chickens, killer robots: UK's Boris Johnson bemuses in UN speech

The unconventional speech only mentioned Brexit once in 20 minutes

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. AFP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday joked that if some British members of parliament had their way Brexit would be an endless process like the torment of the Greek mythological figure Prometheus.

According to the online Encyclopedia Britannica, the Greek god Zeus punished Prometheus for stealing fire from the gods by securing him to a mountain and sending an eagle to eat his liver, which regrows only to be eaten again and again.

"This went on forever, a bit like the experience of Brexit in the UK, if some of our parliamentarians had their way," Mr Johnson told the annual gathering of world leaders for the United Nations General Assembly in a late Tuesday speech.

More than three years after the United Kingdom voted by 52 per cent to 48 per cent in a referendum to leave the European Union, the country remains deeply divided over the issue and the Brexit process has become mired in confusion. Mr Johnson has vowed that Britain will leave the EU by October 31, come what may.

The unconventional speech referenced "terrifying limbless chickens" and "pink-eyed terminators" but only mentioned Brexit once.

During a late-night, 20-minute address that drew laughs and baffled looks from delegates, Johnson struck a light tone on a serious subject as he warned of technology's capacity to control citizens.

He made no mention of Britain's highest court ruling earlier in the day that his decision to suspend parliament amid a Brexit impasse was unlawful.

The shock ruling plunged his plans to exit the European Union by October 31 into crisis and sparked calls by opposition MPs that he resign immediately.

At the UN, Mr Johnson painted the possibility of a future where devices in every household "monitor your nightmares, monitor your fridge," and where smart cities are "as antiseptic as a Zurich pharmacy".

"'Alexa' will pretend to take orders but this Alexa will be watching you, clapping her tongue and stamping her foot," Johnson boomed, suggesting "there may be nowhere to hide".

"As new technologies seem to race towards us from the far horizon we strain our eyes as they come, to make out whether they are for good or bad, friends or foes.

"AI, what will it mean?" he asked of artificial intelligence.

"Helpful robots washing and caring for an ageing population or pink-eyed terminators sent back from the future to cull the human race?" Johnson pondered.

He went on to wonder whether synthetic biology could restore tissues "like some fantastic hangover cure" or "bring terrifying limbless chickens to our tables".

Johnson also referenced one of his favourite subjects, Greek mythology, by telling the story of Zeus punishing Prometheus by ensuring that an eagle ate his liver over and over again.

"This went on forever. A bit like the experience of Brexit in the UK if some of our parliamentarians had their way," he said, drawing laughs from the remaining delegates in the largely deserted hall.

US President Donald Trump speaks during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. Bloomberg

US President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 24, 2019. Reuters

US President Donald Trump is shown on a monitor during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2019 in New York. AFP

Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs walks through the hallway during the general debate of the 74th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations at United Nations Headquarters in New York, New York, USA. The annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations runs until 30 September 2019. EPA

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks with his delegation during the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. AFP

US Vice-President Mike Pence arrives for the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. AP Photo

Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea speaks during the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. AFP

King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of Jordan speaks at the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly in New York City. World leaders are gathered for the 74th session of the UN amid a warning by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his address yesterday of the looming risk of a world splitting between the two largest economies - the U.S. and China. Getty Images

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for a luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. AP Photo

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S. Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. AFP

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's president, speaks during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, U.S. Erdogan used his speech to reinforce his image as a champion of the underdog -- and particularly of Muslims he says are being oppressed. Bloomberg

President Donald Trump meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. AP Photo

President Hassan Rouhani, right, shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron during their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. AP

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha talks with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the start of an annual luncheon for heads of state on the sidelines the general debate of the 74th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. EPA

President Hassan Rouhani, right, meets Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, on the sideline of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters. AP

President Hassan Rouhani, right, meets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, on the sideline of the United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations. AP

US President Donald Trump and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres talk at the start of an annual luncheon for heads of state on the sidelines the general debate of the 74th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. EPA

The Conservative leader made an impassioned plea for technology to be a force for good and said he was optimistic it could "serve as a liberator and to remake the world wondrously and benignly."

He called on world leaders to agree to a set of guidelines to ensure that new technologies are designed ethically before inviting them to join him at a tech summit in London next year.

Whether Johnson is still prime minister then remains to be seen. After his UN address he was due to fly back to Britain where a political storm awaits him, cutting his New York trip short.

He also poked fun at France during his speech, reminiscing about how when he was mayor of London the city had more Michelin stars than Paris.

"The French somehow rapidly recovered — by a process that I wasn't quite sure was entirely fair," he joked.