UN Body Launches Global Forum to Govern Military Use of Artificial Intelligence

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) launched a new global forum on October 21, 2026, dedicated to governing the military uses of artificial intelligence. Led by UNIDIR director Robin Geiss, the initiative will convene governments, defence technology companies, AI developers, investors, and civil society experts from across the world. The forum was established under a newly created UNIDIR Centre of Excellence on AI, Peace and Security, funded by all five major nuclear powers. Geiss warned that AI is already embedded in early warning systems, reconnaissance, information gathering, and logistics, and that the margin for human judgment is becoming increasingly narrow, including in the nuclear domain. He acknowledged the difficulty of determining exactly when control is lost as the technology spreads across military infrastructure. A parallel UNIDIR initiative will address the misuse of AI by non-state armed groups, which are already using the technology for operational planning and execution. The forum will develop voluntary guidelines aligned with international law and human rights standards, informed by consultations with a broad range of global stakeholders. The launch was widely covered by international outlets on October 22–23.