NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – On Thursday, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research announced the launch of a new platform dedicated to artificial intelligence within the scope of international peace and security. This initiative, spearheaded by the institute’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security, also emphasizes the application of AI in military contexts. UNIDIR describes this as the first-ever multi-stakeholder forum of its kind within the UN system. The event’s debut is scheduled for October 22.
At a briefing held at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss unveiled the forum, stating it aims to unite actors from all relevant sectors and regions. The consultation process will involve defense technology firms, software creators, subcontractors, and investors, working alongside governments, civil society, academia, and independent specialists. The Geneva-based research body, which operates independently of the UN, focuses on disarmament issues. Geiss emphasized that now is the time to combine efforts and address military AI challenges head-on.
According to Geiss, the forum’s agenda covers three main topics. The first involves establishing a responsible industry framework, which would offer practical, voluntary guidelines for companies during the design and development phases of military AI systems. The second aims to create an AI security lexicon to define key concepts like autonomy, safety, and security clearly. Currently, these terms are used inconsistently across stakeholders, creating ambiguity that hampers trust and collaboration.
Focus on risks of misuse and accelerated warfare
The third area concentrates on the danger posed by non-State armed groups misusing AI technology. Such groups could leverage AI for operational planning, logistics, and execution. Geiss highlighted that some armed factions are already employing AI for these purposes. He noted that AI tools are becoming increasingly user-friendly, enabling non-State actors to carry out more advanced military operations. The Centre of Excellence, inaugurated this summer as the UN’s first permanent platform dedicated to these issues, will address these concerns.
Geiss warned that human judgment’s role in warfare is rapidly diminishing. AI is already widely applied in intelligence analysis, target identification, and drone operations. It is also employed to coordinate cyber-attacks. He pointed out that the scope for human decision-making is shrinking across domains, including nuclear technology. This shift is notably increasing the speed of battlefield activities and reducing the interval between target detection and attack.
Regulation faces hurdles amid geopolitical tensions
Geiss stated that many military AI systems are opaque, raising concerns about errors, misjudgments, and unintended escalations. He described geopolitical rivalry and tensions as significant barriers to establishing effective regulations for this technology. Despite these challenges, there is a shared concern across political spectrums, including among major powers. He referenced a September U.S. proposal for an AI notification mechanism with China, intended to enable the two largest military spenders to alert each other about AI-related incidents.
The Centre of Excellence has garnered funding from all five major nuclear-armed nations—United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France—according to Geiss. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly urged countries not to cross moral boundaries concerning machines that target humans. He advocates for a legally binding treaty on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss added that such calls are increasingly echoed throughout the international community.