NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – A new UN forum dedicated to artificial intelligence in global peace and security officially begins on Thursday, October 22. The UN Institute for Disarmament Research is launching this initiative through its Centre of Excellence focused on AI, Peace and Security. The platform will also explore AI applications within military contexts. According to the institute, it is currently the only multi-stakeholder forum addressing this topic within the UN system.
Robin Geiss, who is the Director of UNIDIR, shared details about the initiative during a UN press briefing in New York on Tuesday. He emphasized that the forum will involve participants from all relevant sectors and regions. It is expected that defense technology companies, software developers, subcontractors, and investors will participate in consultations. These discussions will include governments, civil society, academic institutions, and experts. The forum’s supporting centre was established this summer as the UN’s first permanent platform dedicated to these issues.
Geiss explained that the forum aims to achieve three primary objectives. The first is to develop a responsible industry framework based on voluntary, practical guidelines. These guidelines would guide companies in designing and developing AI tools for military applications. The second goal involves creating an AI security lexicon, which clarifies key concepts like autonomy, safety, and security. Currently, different stakeholders interpret these terms differently, leading to ambiguity that can hinder trust and collaboration.
Increased AI Access Elevates Risks for Non-State Armed Groups
The third objective is to address the potential misuse of AI by non-State armed entities. Geiss highlighted that such groups could utilize AI for operational planning, execution, and logistics. As AI tools become more user-friendly, non-State actors might conduct more advanced military operations. This concern builds upon previous UN efforts to address technology-related threats posed by armed groups. UNIDIR is the UN’s independent institute dedicated to disarmament research, based in Geneva.
Geiss stated that AI is increasingly likely to supplant human decision-making in warfare. Currently, armed forces already rely on AI for intelligence analysis, target identification, operating drones, and cyber-attack coordination. He warned that human judgment is being displaced, including within the nuclear sphere. AI is also accelerating battlefield activities and enabling forces to target an unprecedented number of targets daily. However, many AI systems remain opaque, which heightens the risks of errors and unintended escalations.
Nuclear Powers Support UN Centre Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Geiss noted that geopolitical rivalry remains a significant barrier to regulating military AI. Nevertheless, he observed that concerns about AI are shared across different political perspectives, including among major global powers. He cited a September proposal from the U.S. for an AI notification mechanism with China. This arrangement would allow the world’s two leading military spenders to alert each other about AI incidents. He framed this proposal as evidence that worries about AI transcend political divides.
According to Geiss, all five major nuclear states have contributed funding to the Centre of Excellence. These nations are the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France. The UN Secretary-General has repeatedly called on stakeholders not to cross moral red lines concerning autonomous weapons. He advocates for stronger regulations and a legally binding treaty on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss mentioned that such calls are gaining increasing support across the international community.