NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research is unveiling a fresh platform dedicated to artificial intelligence in the context of international peace and security this Thursday. This new initiative also encompasses the application of AI within military operations. It is being established by the institute’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security. According to UNIDIR, it is the first and only multi-stakeholder forum of its kind within the UN framework. The official launch is scheduled for October 22.
UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss announced the creation of this forum during a briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday. He emphasized that it aims to unite participants from all relevant sectors and regions. The consultation process includes defence technology firms, software developers, subcontractors, and investors. These groups will collaborate alongside governments, civil society, academia, and independent specialists. Based in Geneva, the institute functions as the UN’s autonomous body for research on disarmament. Geiss highlighted that the moment has arrived for collective efforts to address military AI challenges directly.
According to Geiss, the forum will concentrate on three primary topics. The first involves creating a responsible industry framework. This would involve practical, voluntary guidelines for companies during the design and development phases of military AI tools. The second focuses on developing an AI security lexicon to define core concepts such as autonomy, safety, and security. Currently, stakeholders interpret these terms in very different ways, leading to ambiguity that hampers trust and collaboration.
Focus on misuse dangers and rapid warfare escalation
The third key area considers the threat of non-State armed groups misusing AI technology. Such groups can exploit AI to support operational planning, execution, and logistics. Geiss stated that some armed groups are already employing AI in this manner. He added that AI tools are becoming more user-friendly, enabling non-State actors to undertake more advanced military operations. The Centre of Excellence, which opened this summer, is the first permanent UN platform dedicated to these pressing issues.
Geiss cautioned that the role of human judgment in warfare is diminishing rapidly. AI is already extensively used for intelligence analysis, target identification, and drone operations. It also plays a role in orchestrating cyber-attacks. He explained that the scope for human oversight is shrinking, even in nuclear contexts. This shift is significantly accelerating battlefield operations and reducing the interval between target identification and attack execution.
Geopolitical tensions hinder AI regulation efforts
Geiss pointed out that many military AI systems operate opaquely, increasing the chances of errors, miscalculations, and unintended escalations. He described geopolitical rivalry and tensions as serious barriers to effective regulation of these technologies. Despite these obstacles, concern about AI remains widespread across political spectrums, including among major powers. He cited a September U.S. proposal for an AI notification mechanism with China. This framework would allow the two largest military spenders to warn each other about AI-related incidents.
Geiss mentioned that the Centre of Excellence has received funding from all five major nuclear powers: the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly urged nations to avoid crossing moral red lines involving autonomous targeting systems. He advocates for a legally binding treaty on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss noted that these calls are increasingly echoed across the international community.