Warnings of Loss of Human Control: UN Initiative to Address Risks of Military AI

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) plans to launch an international forum to discuss the use of artificial intelligence in military and security fields, amid warnings of a shrinking space for human judgment in military systems, including those linked to nuclear weapons. The forum will be launched in New York in partnership with Switzerland and Pakistan.

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) intends to launch a new international forum to discuss the uses of artificial intelligence in military and security fields, amid growing warnings about the declining ability of humans to control these systems, including those associated with nuclear weapons. The forum will be launched in New York, in partnership with Switzerland and Pakistan, as part of an initiative aimed at enhancing international dialogue on the risks of AI and developing mechanisms to address its uses in peace and security. UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss warned during a UN press conference that the space available for human judgment in military operations is increasingly shrinking, pointing to the difficulty of determining the stage at which humans might lose actual control over these systems. These concerns are emerging as the use of AI technologies expands in functions that precede military decision-making, such as early warning systems, information gathering, and reconnaissance, which could affect the information and assessments on which those decisions are based. The forum will be launched within the "Center of Excellence for AI, Peace and Security" established by the institute in June 2026, aiming to provide a permanent platform for research, dialogue, and exchange of expertise.