NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research is set to launch a pioneering platform dedicated to artificial intelligence in the realms of global peace and security on Thursday. This new initiative also encompasses discussions on AI’s application within military contexts. It is being established by the institute’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security. According to UNIDIR, it stands as the first and only multi-stakeholder forum of its kind within the entire UN system. The official launch is scheduled for October 22.
During a briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss announced the creation of the forum. He emphasized that it aims to gather participants from all relevant sectors and regions. The consultation process will include defence technology firms, software developers, subcontractors, and investors, working alongside governments, civil society organizations, academia, and independent specialists. As the UN’s independent research body on disarmament based in Geneva, Geiss pointed out that it is now urgent to combine efforts and address military AI challenges directly.
According to Geiss, the forum will address three main topics. The first is the development of a responsible industry framework, which will outline practical, voluntary guidelines for companies during the design and development phases of military AI systems. The second involves creating an AI security lexicon to standardize terminology such as autonomy, safety, and security, which are currently used inconsistently across stakeholders, leading to confusion and distrust.
Focus on misuse potential and rapid warfare escalation
The third key area centers on the danger of non-State armed groups exploiting AI technology. Such groups can utilize AI to enhance operational planning, execution, and logistics. Geiss mentioned that some armed groups are already employing AI in these ways, noting that AI tools are becoming increasingly accessible. This trend enables non-State actors to conduct more advanced military operations. The Centre of Excellence, inaugurated this summer, serves as the UN’s first permanent platform dedicated specifically to these issues.
Geiss expressed concern over the diminishing role of human judgment in warfare, highlighting that AI is already extensively used for intelligence analysis, target identification, and drone operations. AI is also involved in orchestrating cyber-attacks. He warned that the scope for human oversight is shrinking, even within nuclear security. This evolution is markedly accelerating the tempo of battlefield activities and reducing the interval between target recognition and engagement.
Geopolitical tensions complicate regulation efforts
Geiss pointed out that many military AI systems operate in a non-transparent manner, which heightens the risks of errors, miscalculations, and unintended escalation. He described geopolitical rivalry and tensions as significant hurdles to establishing effective regulations for these technologies. Nonetheless, concern over AI’s military use is widespread across political spectra, including among major powers. He referred to a September proposal from the U.S. for an AI notification system with China, intended to allow the two largest military spenders to warn each other about AI-related incidents.
The Centre of Excellence has received funding from all five major nuclear powers, including the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France, Geiss noted. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly urged nations not to cross a moral red line with lethal autonomous weapons, calling for a legally binding treaty to regulate such systems. Geiss added that these appeals are increasingly echoed across the international community.