NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research is establishing a new platform dedicated to artificial intelligence in the context of international peace and security, scheduled to launch on Thursday. The initiative also encompasses the deployment of AI within military operations. It is being developed by the institute’s Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security. UNIDIR characterizes this as the first and only multi-stakeholder forum of its type within the UN system to date. The launch is set for October 22.
During a briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss announced the formation of this forum. He emphasized that it will unite participants from all relevant sectors and regions. The consultation process includes defense technology firms, software developers, subcontractors, and investors. These groups will collaborate with governments, civil society, academia, and independent experts. As the UN’s independent research body on disarmament based in Geneva, Geiss highlighted the urgency of pooling resources and addressing military AI issues directly.
According to Geiss, the forum will concentrate on three main objectives. The first involves creating a framework for responsible industry conduct, providing practical, voluntary guidelines for companies during the design and development phases of military AI systems. The second aims to develop an AI security lexicon to define critical terms such as autonomy, safety, and security, which are currently used inconsistently across different stakeholders, leading to confusion and hindering trust and collaboration.
Addressing misuse and accelerating warfare
The third focus area tackles the danger of non-State armed groups misappropriating AI. Such entities could leverage the technology for operational planning, execution, and logistics. Geiss noted that some armed groups are already employing AI in this manner. He pointed out that AI tools are becoming increasingly accessible, enabling non-State actors to conduct more advanced military operations. The Centre of Excellence, launched this summer, marks the first permanent UN platform dedicated solely to these challenges.
He further warned that the influence of human judgment in warfare is rapidly diminishing. AI is now extensively used for intelligence analysis, target identification, and drone operations. It also plays a role in coordinating cyber-attacks. Geiss emphasized that the space for human decision-making is shrinking, including in nuclear contexts, leading to faster battlefield responses and a shorter interval between target recognition and engagement.
Regulatory challenges posed by geopolitical tensions
Geiss highlighted that many military AI systems lack transparency, which increases the likelihood of errors, misjudgments, and unintended escalations. He described geopolitical rivalry and tensions as significant hurdles to effective regulation. Nonetheless, concern about these issues is shared across diverse political perspectives, including among major powers. For example, he referenced a September proposal from the U.S. to establish an AI notification mechanism with China, allowing the two leading military spenders to warn each other about AI-related incidents.
He added that the Centre of Excellence has received funding from all five major nuclear states—the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly urged nations not to cross moral red lines concerning autonomous targeting systems, advocating for a legally binding treaty on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss noted that such calls are increasingly echoed across the international community.