NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research is establishing a new platform focused on artificial intelligence applications in global peace and security on Thursday. This initiative also encompasses AI utilization within military operations. It is being launched by the institute’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security. UNIDIR describes it as the first and only multi-stakeholder forum of its kind within the UN system to date. The event occurs on October 22.
At a briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss unveiled the new forum. He emphasized that it aims to unite participants from all pertinent sectors and regions. The consultation process will involve defense technology firms, software developers, subcontractors, and investors, working alongside governments, civil society, academia, and independent specialists. As the UN’s independent disarmament research entity based in Geneva, Geiss expressed that the moment has arrived to combine efforts and address military AI issues head-on.
According to Geiss, the forum will concentrate on three primary themes. The first involves creating a framework for responsible conduct within the industry, offering practical, voluntary guidelines for companies during the design and development of military AI systems. The second aims to develop an AI security lexicon to define key terms like autonomy, safety, and security, which are currently interpreted very differently by various stakeholders, causing confusion and hampering trust and collaboration.
Focus on risks of misuse and accelerated warfare
The third focus area considers the danger of non-State armed groups misappropriating AI. Such groups might leverage the technology for operational planning, execution, and logistics. Geiss mentioned that some armed groups are already utilizing AI in this manner. He pointed out that AI tools are becoming more accessible, enabling non-State actors to conduct more advanced military operations. The Centre of Excellence, which opened this summer as the first permanent UN platform dedicated to these challenges, aims to address this issue.
Geiss cautioned that the influence of human judgment in warfare is diminishing rapidly. He highlighted that AI is already extensively employed for intelligence analysis, target identification, and drone operations. Furthermore, it is used to coordinate cyber-attacks. He noted that the scope for human oversight is shrinking, including in nuclear decision-making, leading to an increased tempo of battlefield activities and a shorter interval between target detection and engagement.
Regulatory challenges posed by geopolitical tensions
Geiss explained that many military AI systems operate with a lack of transparency, heightening the risks of errors, miscalculations, and unintended escalation. He described geopolitical rivalry and tensions as significant barriers to establishing effective regulations for these technologies. Despite these hurdles, there is a shared concern among major powers and across political spectrums. He referenced a September U.S. proposal for an AI notification mechanism with China, designed to enable the two largest military spenders to alert each other to AI-related incidents.
The Centre of Excellence has received funding from all five major nuclear powers, Geiss stated. These countries include the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly called on nations to refrain from crossing a moral red line regarding autonomous weapons that target humans, advocating for a legally binding treaty on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss noted that these appeals are increasingly resonating across the international community.