WORLD - The United Nations is launching a new initiative to address the risks posed by the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military operations, as concerns mount over the technology’s potential impact on human control, international security and nuclear decision-making.
The initiative, led by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), will establish an international forum bringing together key stakeholders to examine military applications of AI. The forum is scheduled to launch on Thursday as part of broader efforts to promote the responsible use of the technology.
Robin Geiss, director of the Geneva-based institute, warned at a UN press conference on Tuesday that opportunities for human intervention in critical decisions were becoming increasingly limited.
“The margin for human judgment is increasingly narrow, including in the nuclear domain,” Geiss said.
He added that it remains difficult to determine how close the world is to a situation in which machines could act beyond human control. That uncertainty, he said, is a central issue the initiative seeks to address.
AI Expands Across Military Systems
AI is increasingly being integrated into military functions, including early-warning systems, intelligence gathering and reconnaissance, raising questions about where human oversight could become insufficient.
Geiss said it was difficult to identify the point at which the use of AI could result in a loss of control, particularly as the technology spreads across multiple military applications.
He noted that governments had long shown reluctance to establish safeguards for AI. However, the rapid expansion of its capabilities and the potential consequences have prompted greater recognition of the need for action.
“We stand at a crossroad — that now is the time to act, including on military AI,” he said.
The initiative comes amid growing international debate over AI governance and security. Geiss acknowledged that competition among countries seeking leadership in AI presents significant challenges to international cooperation.
However, he said concerns about the technology were increasingly crossing geopolitical divides. As an example, he cited a proposal made last month for the United States and China to establish an AI safety alert system addressing issues that could threaten national security.
AI risks also featured prominently in speeches delivered by leaders of several UN member states during the organization's annual high-level meeting last month.
UN Expands Efforts on Responsible AI
UNIDIR established a Center of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security during the summer, creating the United Nations’ first permanent platform focused on these issues. Geiss said the center had received funding from all five major nuclear powers: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.
The new military AI forum will bring together participants from different sectors and countries to examine the technology's military applications.
UNIDIR is also developing a framework for responsible industry behaviour, intended to provide practical, voluntary guidelines aligned with international law and human rights.
Geiss said decisions made by companies during the design and development of AI systems would influence whether military capabilities using the technology were reliable, predictable and consistent with international law.
Consultations scheduled for this week will involve defence technology companies, software developers, subcontractors, investors and other industry representatives, alongside governments, civil society groups, academics and experts.
Concerns Over AI Use by Armed Groups
Another initiative will focus on the risks of AI misuse by armed groups. Geiss warned that such groups were already using the technology to support operational planning, execution and logistics.
The UN's efforts aim to bring governments, industry and other stakeholders into discussions on managing these risks as military AI capabilities continue to develop.
“The urgent issue of AI in the military domain will certainly no longer be allowed to linger in the shadows,” Geiss said, calling for coordinated action to address the challenges posed by the technology.
