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, set to launch on Thursday. This initiative also explores 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 kind within the UN system to date. The official launch is scheduled for October 22.
During a briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss announced the new forum. He emphasized that it will convene participants from all relevant sectors and regions. Engagements will involve defense technology firms, software developers, subcontractors, and investors, who will collaborate with governments, civil society, academia, and independent specialists. As the UN’s autonomous research organization on disarmament, the Geneva-based institute’s Geiss highlighted the importance of pooling efforts and directly addressing military AI issues.
According to Geiss, the forum will concentrate on three primary topics. The first involves creating a framework that promotes responsible behavior within the industry, including practical, voluntary guidelines for companies involved in designing and developing military AI systems. The second aims to establish an AI security lexicon to clarify critical terms such as autonomy, safety, and security, which are currently used inconsistently across different stakeholders, creating misunderstandings that impede trust and collaboration.
Focus on misuse and rapid warfare escalation
The third topic addresses the danger of non-State armed groups misusing AI, which can be exploited for operational planning, execution, and logistical support. Geiss noted that some armed groups are already utilizing AI in this manner. As AI tools become more accessible, non-State actors gain the ability to carry out increasingly complex military activities. The Centre of Excellence, which opened this summer as the first permanent UN platform dedicated to these issues, aims to monitor and mitigate such risks.
Geiss expressed concern that the influence of human judgment in warfare is diminishing rapidly. He pointed out that AI is already extensively used for intelligence analysis, target identification, and drone operations. It is also involved in orchestrating cyber-attacks. He warned that the scope of human oversight is shrinking, particularly in nuclear decision-making, leading to faster battlefield responses and a reduced window for human intervention after identifying targets.
Geopolitical tensions hinder AI regulation efforts
Geiss highlighted that many military AI systems operate opaquely, increasing the risk of errors, miscalculations, and unintended escalation. He described geopolitical rivalry and tensions as significant barriers to establishing effective regulation. Despite these challenges, there is a common concern among major powers. For instance, Geiss mentioned a September U.S. proposal for an AI notification system with China, designed to enable the two largest military spenders to alert each other about AI-related incidents.
The Centre of Excellence has secured funding from all five major nuclear powers, namely the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France, Geiss confirmed. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly urged nations not to cross moral boundaries with autonomous systems targeting humans, advocating for a legally binding treaty on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Geiss noted that these appeals are increasingly echoed throughout the international community.