UN launches forum to tackle military artificial intelligence uses

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 04:32 · Archive

The UN Institute for Disarmament Research is launching an international forum to address concerns about artificial intelligence in military applications.

The United Nations is launching a new initiative on the military uses of artificial intelligence, aimed at addressing concerns about the threat the rapidly developing technology could pose to humanity. The UN Institute for Disarmament Research will establish the first international forum for key players to tackle the issue on Thursday.

Robin Geiss, head of UNIDIR, warned at a UN press conference that 'the margin for human judgment is increasingly narrow, including in the nuclear domain'. He said it is difficult to assess how close the world is to machines possibly acting outside of human control, and that uncertainty 'is the issue we're trying to resolve here'. AI is increasingly being used in early warning systems, information gathering and reconnaissance, he noted, making it 'quite difficult to say at which point we're actually really losing control'.

Geiss said the UN recognises that global competition to lead on AI poses serious obstacles to international cooperation. However, he added that 'concerns about AI's impact are already transcending geopolitical blocs, and they're prompting action from major powers'. He pointed to a proposal last month for the US and China to set up an AI safety alert system for issues that could threaten national security. The new forum will bring together 'actors from every relevant sector and all over the world' to work on military uses of AI.

How it is being reported

• UN initiative aims to tackle the military uses of AIThe UN will launch an international forum bringing together key players to address concerns about the threat artificial intelligence could pose to humanity.Perth Now · 21 Oct, 04:01
• UN initiative aims to tackle the military uses of AIThe UN will launch an international forum bringing together key players to address concerns about the threat artificial intelligence could pose to humanity.The West Australian · 21 Oct, 04:01

In this story: United Nations · UN Institute for Disarmament Research · Robin Geiss · Geneva · United States · China

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