NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research is set to introduce a new platform dedicated to artificial intelligence and its implications for global peace and security on Thursday. This initiative also encompasses the application of AI within military contexts. It is being established by the institute’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security. According to UNIDIR, it is the first and only multi-stakeholder forum of its kind within the UN system thus far. The official launch is scheduled for October 22.
UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss revealed the forum during a briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday. He emphasized that it will unite participants from all relevant sectors and regions. The consultations will involve defense technology firms, software developers, subcontractors, and investors. These groups will collaborate with governments, civil society, academia, and independent experts. The Geneva-based research organization is the UN’s autonomous body dedicated to disarmament research. Geiss expressed that the time has come to combine efforts and tackle military AI issues head-on.
According to Geiss, the forum will concentrate on three main topics. The first is establishing a framework to promote responsible conduct within the industry. This would involve creating practical, voluntary guidelines for companies during the design and development phases of military AI systems. The second focus is developing an AI security lexicon to define critical concepts like autonomy, safety, and security. Currently, different stakeholders interpret these terms in various ways, leading to ambiguity that hampers trust and collaboration.
Focus on risks of misuse and accelerating warfare
The third focus centers on the danger of non-State armed groups abusing AI technology. Such groups could utilize AI to assist with operational planning, execution, and logistics. Geiss noted that some armed factions are already employing AI in this manner. He added that AI tools are becoming more accessible, enabling non-State actors to conduct increasingly advanced military actions. The Centre of Excellence, which opened this summer, is the first permanent UN platform dedicated to addressing these concerns.
Geiss cautioned that human judgment’s role in warfare is diminishing swiftly. He pointed out that AI is already extensively used for intelligence analysis, target identification, and drone operations. It is also employed to coordinate cyber-attacks. He warned that the scope for human oversight is shrinking, including in the nuclear sphere. This shift is significantly speeding up battlefield operations and reducing the interval between target recognition and engagement.
Complexity of regulation amid geopolitical tensions
Geiss highlighted that many military AI systems lack transparency, increasing the risks of errors, misjudgments, and unintended escalation. He described the geopolitical rivalry and heightened tensions as major barriers to effective regulation of these technologies. Despite these obstacles, concern about military AI is widespread across political spectrums, including among leading powers. He referenced a September proposal by the U.S. for an AI notification system with China, which would enable the world’s two largest military spenders to alert each other about AI-related incidents.
Geiss stated that all five major nuclear powers—United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France—have contributed funding to the Centre of Excellence. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly urged nations to avoid crossing moral red lines related to autonomous weapons targeting humans. He has called for a legally binding treaty on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss noted that these appeals are increasingly resonating within the international community.