New UN initiative aims to address military uses of AI

The UN is launching a new initiative to address military uses of artificial intelligence (AI), aiming to tackle concerns about its threats to humanity. The initiative, led by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), will establish an international forum for stakeholders to discuss these issues. Director Robin Geiss emphasized the narrowing margin for human judgment, particularly in nuclear contexts, and the difficulty in assessing how close we are to losing control over AI systems. The initiative responds to a growing recognition of the need for safeguards as AI capabilities proliferate. It will also focus on responsible industrial conduct and address risks of misuse by armed groups. Geiss highlighted the urgency of confronting military AI issues directly.