NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – On Thursday, October 22, a fresh UN platform dedicated to artificial intelligence in global peace and security will be launched. The UN Institute for Disarmament Research is establishing this venue through its Centre of Excellence focused on AI, Peace and Security. The forum will also explore AI applications within military contexts. According to the institute, this is the first and only multi-stakeholder platform of its kind within the UN system to date.
Robin Geiss, who is the Director of UNIDIR, shared the initiative’s details during a UN press briefing held in New York on Tuesday. He emphasized that the forum aims to include participants from all relevant sectors and regions. Expected attendees include defense technology companies, software developers, subcontractors, and investors, who will engage in consultations alongside governments, civil society groups, academic institutions, and subject matter experts. The centre responsible for organizing this forum was established this summer as the UN’s inaugural permanent hub addressing these issues.
According to Geiss, the forum will focus on three primary objectives. One involves developing a framework for responsible conduct by industry, grounded in voluntary, practical guidelines that companies can adopt when designing and developing AI tools for military purposes. Another goal aims to create an AI security lexicon, clarifying definitions for terms such as autonomy, safety, and security, which are currently used inconsistently, leading to confusion and hindering trust and cooperation among stakeholders.
Militant groups access simplified AI tools
The third objective addresses the danger of AI being misused by non-State armed groups. Geiss pointed out that such groups could leverage AI for operational planning, execution, and logistics. As these tools become more accessible and user-friendly, non-State actors might carry out more advanced military operations. This concern builds on earlier UN efforts concerning technology-related threats posed by armed groups. UNIDIR is an independent research institute specializing in disarmament, based in Geneva.
Geiss observed that AI is increasingly poised to overshadow human decision-making in warfare. Currently, armed forces utilize AI for intelligence analysis, target identification, drone operation, and cyber-attack coordination. He highlighted that human judgment is being displaced even in nuclear-related scenarios. Additionally, AI accelerates battlefield activities and enables forces to target more objectives daily than ever before. Many of these systems operate opaquely, which heightens the risks of mistakes and unintended escalation.
Major nuclear powers support UN’s AI initiative
The challenge of geopolitical rivalry remains a significant barrier to establishing regulations for military AI, Geiss stated. Nonetheless, he emphasized that concern over AI is a common issue shared across political spectrums, including among the world’s leading powers. He pointed to a September U.S. proposal for an AI notification mechanism with China, designed to enable the two largest military spenders to alert each other about AI incidents. Geiss described this initiative as evidence that apprehensions about AI transcend political divides.
He added that all five major nuclear states—United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France—have contributed funding to the Centre of Excellence, according to Geiss. The UN Secretary-General has repeatedly urged stakeholders to avoid crossing a moral red line concerning autonomous weapons systems. He advocates for stronger regulations and a legally binding treaty on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss noted that such calls are increasingly gaining support across the international community.