‘Now is the time to act’: UN launches initiative to tackle military AI risks

The United Nations is launching a new initiative to address the risks posed by the growing use of artificial intelligence in military operations, warning that the scope for human judgment is narrowing, including in the nuclear domain.The initiative, led by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), is set to launch on Thursday. It will establish an international forum bringing together key stakeholders from across the world to discuss the military applications of AI and ways to address the threats associated with the technology, AP reported.Robin Geiss, head of the Geneva-based institute, warned at a UN press conference on Tuesday that “the margin for human judgment is increasingly narrow, including in the nuclear domain”.Geiss said it remained difficult to determine how close the world was to a point where machines could act beyond human control. However, he stressed that uncertainty itself was a major concern the new initiative aimed to address.AI is increasingly being integrated into military functions, including early warning systems, intelligence gathering and reconnaissance, making it difficult to identify when human control could be compromised, he said.UN warns against delaying AI safeguardsGeiss said governments had long been reluctant to address safeguards for artificial intelligence. However, the rapid spread of AI capabilities and their potential consequences have prompted a growing recognition that action is needed.“We stand at a crossroads — that now is the time to act, including on military AI,” he said.He acknowledged that global competition to lead in AI development posed significant challenges to international cooperation. However, concerns about the technology's impact were increasingly crossing geopolitical boundaries and prompting action from major powers.As an example, Geiss cited a proposal made last month for the United States and China to establish an AI safety alert system to address issues that could threaten national security.UN seeks responsible AI development in defence sectorUNIDIR established a Center of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security this summer, creating the UN's first permanent platform dedicated to these issues. Geiss said the centre had received funding from all five major nuclear powers — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.The new military AI forum will be part of the centre's broader efforts to bring together stakeholders from different sectors and regions to address the technology's implications for global security.Alongside the military AI forum and industry-focused initiative, UNIDIR is launching an effort to address the potential misuse of artificial intelligence by armed groups.Geiss warned that such groups were already using AI to support operational planning, execution and logistics, highlighting the need to address the risks posed by the technology beyond state militaries.“The urgent issue of AI in the military domain will certainly no longer be allowed to linger in the shadows,” Geiss said, adding that the international community must work together to confront the challenges posed by military AI.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.