NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research is establishing a new platform dedicated to discussions on artificial intelligence in the context of international peace and security, set to launch on Thursday. The initiative, developed by the institute’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security, aims to address AI’s military applications. UNIDIR describes it as the first multi-stakeholder forum of its kind within the UN system. The official launch is scheduled for October 22.
At a briefing held at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss revealed the new forum. He emphasized that it will assemble participants from all relevant sectors and regions, including defense technology firms, software developers, subcontractors, and investors. These groups will collaborate with governments, civil society organizations, academia, and independent specialists. As the UN’s independent disarmament research body based in Geneva, Geiss highlighted the urgent need for collective efforts to confront military AI challenges.
According to Geiss, the forum will concentrate on three main topics. The first involves establishing a responsible industry framework that provides practical, voluntary guidelines for companies during the design and development of military AI systems. The second aims to create an AI security lexicon to define essential concepts such as autonomy, safety, and security clearly. Currently, inconsistent use of these terms hampers trust and cooperation among stakeholders.
Focus on misuse and rapid escalation of conflicts
The third key focus addresses the potential for non-State armed groups to misuse AI. These groups could leverage the technology for operational planning, execution, and logistics. Geiss noted that some armed groups are already utilizing AI in this manner, and that AI tools are becoming increasingly user-friendly. This trend could enable non-State actors to carry out more advanced military actions. The Centre of Excellence, inaugurated this summer, is the first permanent UN platform dedicated specifically to these concerns.
Geiss warned that human judgment in warfare is diminishing rapidly. AI is already extensively employed in intelligence analysis, target identification, and drone operations. It is also used to coordinate cyber-attacks. He highlighted that the scope for human oversight is shrinking, including in nuclear contexts. This shift significantly accelerates battlefield operations and shortens the interval between target identification and attack.
Regulatory challenges amid geopolitical tensions
Geiss pointed out that many military AI systems operate with limited transparency, increasing the risks of errors, misjudgments, and unintended escalation. He described geopolitical rivalry and tensions as major barriers to establishing effective regulations for the technology. Nevertheless, concerns about AI regulation are shared across political spectrums, including among major powers. He referenced a September U.S. proposal for an AI incident notification mechanism with China, designed to allow the two largest military spenders to alert each other about AI-related issues.
Geiss mentioned that the Centre of Excellence has received funding from all five leading nuclear states: the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly called on nations to avoid crossing a moral red line with autonomous weapons targeting humans. He advocates for a legally binding treaty on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss stated that these calls are increasingly resonating across the international community.