UNIDIR sets up a forum to tackle military AI and human oversight

On October 22, the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) will open expressions of interest for a dedicated forum on artificial intelligence, peace and security. The announcement is scheduled for a side event to the UN General Assembly’s First Committee in New York, organized with Switzerland and Pakistan. UNIDIR says the forum is part of its Centre of Excellence, launched in June to connect stakeholders and develop practical, evidence-based policy guidance. [The event page](https://unidir.org/event/unidirs-centre-of-excellence-on-ai-peace-and-security-forum-launch/) sets out the next step. The push comes as military AI use expands. UNIDIR Director Robin Geiss warned that AI is entering early-warning systems, intelligence gathering and reconnaissance, raising concern that human judgment could have less time to intervene, including in the nuclear domain, the [Associated Press reported](https://apnews.com/article/e0a3c48c91a9de89cab72609d185f658). The concern is not that machines already control these decisions; Geiss said the extent of that risk is difficult to assess, which is one reason to convene the work. This forum is a route for dialogue, not a new treaty or binding restriction. UNIDIR is also developing a separate set of voluntary guidelines for companies involved in military AI, while another initiative examines potential misuse by armed groups. Those tracks could influence safeguards and procurement, but their results are not yet known. The immediate next step is inviting participants. The public event description does not yet specify who will join the forum, what outputs it will produce or when any guidance might follow. Its impact will depend on whether governments, technology firms and civil society take part—and whether discussions lead to concrete safeguards for human oversight.