NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – In Geneva on Thursday, October 22, the UN Institute for Disarmament Research is launching a new platform dedicated to discussing artificial intelligence in global peace and security efforts. The UN Institute for Disarmament Research is establishing this forum through its Centre of Excellence focused on AI, Peace and Security. The event will also explore AI’s application within military contexts. According to the institute, this marks the first and only multi-stakeholder forum on the topic within the entire UN system so far.
Robin Geiss, the Director of UNIDIR, detailed the initiative during a UN press conference in New York on Tuesday. He mentioned that the forum aims to gather participants from all relevant sectors and regions worldwide. It is anticipated that defence tech companies, software creators, subcontractors, and investors will join consultations. These stakeholders will collaborate with governments, civil society, academic bodies, and experts. The Centre behind this initiative was established this summer as the UN’s first permanent platform to address these issues.
According to Geiss, the forum’s three primary objectives include establishing a responsible industry framework based on voluntary, practical guidelines. These guidelines are intended for companies designing and developing AI tools for military applications. Additionally, the forum seeks to create an AI security lexicon to clarify terms like autonomy, safety, and security. Currently, different stakeholders interpret these words inconsistently, which hampers trust and cooperation among them.
Armed factions access more user-friendly AI tools
The third objective involves addressing the danger of AI misuse by non-State armed groups. Geiss explained that such groups could leverage AI for operational planning, execution, and logistical support. As these tools become increasingly accessible and easier to use, non-State actors may be capable of executing more complex military operations. This concern builds upon earlier UN efforts regarding technology-related threats posed by armed groups. UNIDIR, based in Geneva, remains the UN’s independent institute dedicated to disarmament research.
Geiss emphasized that AI could soon overshadow human decision-making in warfare. Currently, armed forces deploy AI for intelligence analysis, target identification, drone operation, and cyber-attack coordination. He noted that human judgment is increasingly being displaced, including in nuclear contexts. AI also accelerates battlefield activities, enabling forces to engage more targets than ever before each day. Nonetheless, many AI systems are opaque, which raises risks of errors and unintended escalation.
Nuclear-armed nations endorse UN Centre
Geiss highlighted that geopolitical rivalry remains a significant barrier to regulating military AI. Despite this, he pointed out that concern about the technology is widespread among different political perspectives, including leading powers. For instance, he referenced a September proposal from the U.S. for an AI notification mechanism with China. This arrangement would enable the world’s two largest military spenders to alert each other regarding AI-related incidents. He characterized the proposal as evidence that worries about AI are shared across political lines.
Geiss also noted that all five major nuclear powers— the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France— have contributed funding to the Centre of Excellence. The UN Secretary-General has repeatedly urged stakeholders to avoid crossing a moral red line concerning autonomous weapons. He advocates for stronger regulations and a legally binding treaty to govern lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss added that these appeals are gaining increasing support within the global community.