Preparing to leave office, UN chief reflects on a world beset by problems

The world is deeply divided and the UN's most powerful body is paralysed when it comes to ending conflicts.

But there's a way forward.

So says the United Nations' top official.

On his way out of office at year's end after nearly a decade, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres - known for doom-and-gloom speeches about the state of the planet - said Thursday he finds hope and possibility in the coming years.

But that, he says, is only if the world's governments can finally cooperate on curtailing conflict, upending inequality and grappling with the arriving juggernaut of artificial intelligence.

"I believe in a number of fundamental things that need to be done, and need to happen for the world to be better - and I'm determined to fight to make those things happen," Guterres told The Associated Press in a sit-down interview four days before world leaders convene for their annual meeting at the UN General Assembly.

His message to leaders and ministers from the UN's 193 member nations .