In 2025, UNODA convened three multistakeholder exchanges to advance international discussions on the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military domain for international peace and security. These explored the opportunities and risks posed by military AI, including its impact on compliance with international law, the risks of miscalculation and escalation, and the challenges of ensuring accountability and trustworthiness. The key takeaways of the MAPS dialogues are summarized in an article linked in the "resource" section below.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsAwareness/AdvocacyNetworks/Mentorship/ExchangeAs requested by United Nations General Assembly resolution 79/239, the Secretary-General submitted a report (A/80/78) to the 80th session of the General Assembly on the opportunities and challenges posed to international peace and security by the application of artificial intelligence in the military domain, with specific focus on areas other than lethal autonomous weapons systems, based on the views of Member States and observer States. Views of international and regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, civil society, the scientific community and industry were also included in the annex to the report.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsThe Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) supports the work of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Group of Governmental Experts on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). The Group has affirmed eleven guiding principles to guide its work, covering, inter alia, the applicability of international humanitarian law, the retention of human responsibility and that human-machine interaction should ensure LAWS are used in compliance with international law. The Group has a three-year mandate (2023-2026) to further consider and formulate a set of elements of an instrument and other possible measures to address emerging technologies in the area of LAWS.
Activity Type Research/Reports/AssessmentsPolicy/Regulatory GuidanceEach year, the General Assembly requests the Secretary-General to report on current developments in science and technology and their potential impact on international security and disarmament efforts, including on developments related to AI. This mandate is also contained in Action 27(e) of the Pact of the Future. The most recent report has been issued as document A/80/237.
Activity Type Research/Reports/Assessments