NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Launching on Thursday, October 22, a new UN platform dedicated to artificial intelligence in international peace and security aims to create a set of rules for responsible development and use. The UN Institute for Disarmament Research has established this initiative through its Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security. The forum will also explore AI applications within military contexts. It is currently the first and only multi-stakeholder forum of its kind within the UN system, the institute indicated.
Robin Geiss, the Director of UNIDIR, outlined the initiative during a UN press conference in New York on Tuesday. He emphasized that the event will gather participants from all relevant sectors and regions. Representatives from defense technology companies, software developers, subcontractors, and investors are expected to join consultations alongside governments, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and experts. The centre responsible for hosting this forum was established earlier this summer as the UN’s inaugural permanent platform on these critical issues.
According to Geiss, the forum will focus on three primary objectives. The first is to develop a framework to promote responsible conduct within the industry, based on voluntary and practical guidelines. These would guide companies in designing and developing AI tools for military applications. The second goal involves creating an AI security lexicon that clarifies key concepts such as autonomy, safety, and security. As these terms are currently used inconsistently, this ambiguity hampers trust and cooperation among stakeholders.
Armed groups access to more user-friendly AI tools raises concerns
The third objective addresses the potential misuse of AI by non-State armed groups. Geiss highlighted that such groups could leverage AI for operational planning, execution, and logistics. As AI tools become increasingly accessible and easier to use, non-State actors could undertake more advanced military operations. This concern builds upon previous UN efforts to address technology-related threats posed by armed groups. UNIDIR, based in Geneva, functions as the UN’s independent research institute on disarmament and security issues.
Geiss noted that AI is on a trajectory to replace human decision-making in warfare. Currently, armed forces utilize AI for intelligence analysis, target identification, operating drones, and cyber-attack coordination. He warned that human judgment is increasingly being displaced, including in nuclear domains. AI’s role in accelerating battlefield operations is also growing, enabling forces to target more objectives daily than ever before. Many systems remain opaque, which raises the risk of errors and unintended escalation.
Major nuclear powers support the UN initiative
Geiss pointed out that geopolitical rivalry remains a significant barrier to regulating military AI. Nevertheless, he stressed that concern over the technology is shared across political spectrums, including among leading global powers. He referred to a September proposal from the United States for an AI notification mechanism with China, which would enable the two largest military spenders to inform each other about AI-related incidents. He presented this proposal as evidence that worries about AI are crossing political divides.
All five major nuclear states—the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France—have contributed funding to the Centre of Excellence, Geiss confirmed. The UN Secretary-General has consistently urged stakeholders to avoid crossing a moral red line regarding autonomous weapons and has called for tighter regulations and a legally binding treaty on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss added that these appeals are gaining increasing backing within the international community.