NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research is set to introduce a new platform dedicated to artificial intelligence in global peace and security efforts this Thursday. This effort also encompasses AI applications within military contexts. The initiative is being established by the institute’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security. UNIDIR characterizes it as the first and only multi-stakeholder forum of this kind within the UN system to date. The official launch is scheduled for October 22.
UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss revealed the forum during a briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday. He emphasized that it aims to assemble participants from all pertinent sectors and regions. Consultations will involve defence technology firms, software developers, subcontractors, and investors. These groups will collaborate with governments, civil society, academia, and independent specialists. As the UN’s independent research body on disarmament based in Geneva, Geiss stated that now is the moment to unite efforts and address military AI head-on.
According to Geiss, the forum will concentrate on three core areas. The first involves creating a responsible industry conduct framework, which will outline practical, voluntary standards for companies during the design and development phases of military AI systems. The second aims to develop an AI security lexicon to clarify crucial concepts like autonomy, safety, and security. Currently, these terms are used very differently across various stakeholders, leading to ambiguity that hampers trust and collaboration.
Focus on risks of misuse and accelerated conflict
The third focus area deals with the danger posed by non-State armed groups misusing AI. Such entities could employ the technology to enhance operational planning, execution, and logistics. Geiss mentioned that some armed groups are already leveraging AI in this manner. He highlighted that AI tools are becoming more accessible, enabling non-State actors to undertake increasingly sophisticated military operations. The Centre of Excellence, which opened this summer, is the first permanent UN platform dedicated solely to these challenges.
He warned that the influence of human judgment in warfare is diminishing at a rapid pace. AI is already extensively used for intelligence analysis, target identification, and drone operations. Additionally, AI-driven systems are being employed to coordinate cyber-attacks. Geiss noted that the scope for human decision-making is shrinking, even in nuclear contexts. This transition is significantly accelerating battlefield activity and reducing the interval between target detection and engagement.
Geopolitical tensions hinder regulatory progress
Many military AI systems remain opaque, raising concerns about errors, misjudgments, and unintended escalation. Geiss described geopolitical rivalry and tensions as major barriers to effective regulation. Despite these challenges, there is widespread concern across different political spectrums, including among major powers. He referenced a September proposal by the U.S. for an AI notification mechanism with China, intended to alert each other to incidents involving AI technologies.
The Centre of Excellence has secured funding from all five leading nuclear-armed nations—United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has consistently called on countries to avoid crossing a moral boundary concerning autonomous systems targeting humans. He advocates for a legally binding treaty to regulate lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss remarked that these appeals are increasingly resonating within the international community.