The Artificial Intelligence We Want
Recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) continue to revolutionize nearly every aspect of our lives. AI can also help improve global issues such as peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and humanitarian responses, but if misused, it can pose a potential threat to international peace and security.
In light of this, during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Member States held debates to discuss AI governance as well as AI’s implications for international peace and security.
High-Level Debates on AI
On 24 September, the Security Council convened a high-level open debate on AI, focusing on the impact of AI on international peace and security. The primary objective of the meeting was to foster discussion on mitigating the risks and maximizing the benefits of AI in this context. Participants shared their best practices and approaches to the responsible development, deployment, and use of AI, including in relation to military applications.
The Security Council’s debate was followed by a General Assembly high-level meeting on AI governance on 25 September, launching the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. The meeting, co-facilitated by Costa Rica and Spain, brought together scientists, members of the technology community, the private sector, and civil society. For the first time, all 193 UN Member States had the opportunity to participate in an inclusive global dialogue on AI and shape global cooperation on AI governance.
Addressing AI-Related Issues
In recent years, the UN General Assembly has been particularly active in addressing AI-related issues.
At the Summit of the Future on 22 September 2024, Member States adopted the Pact for the Future, which includes the Global Digital Compact (GDC) and the Declaration on Future Generations. The GDC also committed to establish a multidisciplinary Independent International Scientific Panel on AI (IISP-AI) and a Global Dialogue on AI Governance. Both bodies were adopted by the UN General Assembly on 26 August 2025, based on recommendations made by the High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence in the 2024 UN report, “Governing AI for Humanity”. The objective of the Panel is to issue evidence-based scientific assessments that synthesize and analyze research on the opportunities, risks, and impacts of AI. It will serve as an early warning system against threats such as disinformation, algorithmic manipulation, or the use of AI in autonomous weapons systems. Its work will help ensure that policymaking is grounded in independent scientific assessments.
On 24 December 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, co-drafted by the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea, regarding AI in the military domain and its implications for international peace and security. The resolution highlights the need for the responsible and human-centered use of AI in these contexts.
Regionally, in the European Union (EU), the use of artificial intelligence is regulated by the AI Act, which sets a risk-based AI classification system. The new rules establish obligations for providers and users depending on the level of AI risk classification. AI systems that are used in different applications are analyzed and classified according to the risk they pose. The EU AI Act aims to address risks to health, safety, and fundamental rights, while also protecting democracy, the rule of law, and the environment.
AI Influence on Peace and Security
In his opening speech at the Security Council debate, the Secretary-General highlighted that “the question is not whether AI will influence international peace and security, but how we will shape that influence.” He outlined four priorities, such as ensuring human control over the use of force, coherent global regulatory frameworks, protecting information integrity in situations of conflict, closing the AI capacity gap, and creating space for all nations to shape our AI future.
The Prime Minister of Greece underlined that “the choices we make on artificial intelligence will not only redefine the balance of power, but also determine whether technology becomes a force for human progress, or a drive for human peril.” He added that “the United Nations carries a historic responsibility to chart a path where innovation strengthens peace, where responsibility tempers power, and where technology serves humanity’s highest aspirations.”
The Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom noted that “we are crossing humanity’s most profound technological frontier. Our lives, our world, our politics are about to be flooded with super-powerful AI.” He emphasized that there is only one way forward, through resilience – by learning how to use these tools and by embedding them safely in society.
The Representative of Denmark highlighted that AI could bring new opportunities to sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security, but it also carries significant risks. It can exacerbate the security threats that can destabilize societies, jeopardize democracies, and undermine the efforts of UN Peacekeepers. On the other hand, AI can be used to detect and address cyber-threats, monitor the implementation of sanction regimes, and counter mis- and disinformation and hate speech. AI has the potential to enhance the operational effectiveness of peace operations and support the monitoring of cease-fire agreements.
France stated that, used responsibly, AI data collection and analysis capabilities can improve the protection of civilian populations. AI can be mobilized to identify early warning signals of conflicts and to better anticipate and manage the risks associated with humanitarian crises or climate disasters.
The President of Portugal stressed that the integration of AI into the military domain can have profound implications. If misused, it can threaten global stability and jeopardize the international humanitarian role. This is the case with autonomous weapon systems. He emphasized that human control, decision, and accountability are crucial: “It is a moral, ethical and legal responsibility that cannot and should not be delegated.”
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands underlined that AI is a technology that can advance faster than we expect, so we need to move quickly too and keep this issue on the global UN agenda.
Shaping the Future of AI Governance
During the launch of the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance, the UN Secretary-General highlighted that the trajectory of artificial intelligence will depend on our readiness to listen, adapt, and cooperate – across borders and disciplines. The Global Dialogue on AI Governance is the first pillar of a global strategy presented by the Secretary-General. The second pillar consists of the International and Independent Scientific Panel on AI, comprising 40 experts. Finally, the third pillar, a Global Fund for Capacity Development, directly addresses the digital divide.
The President of the General Assembly mentioned three challenges that loom: the concentration of AI benefits, governance that must be fast and fair, and sustainability as AI uses vast amounts of energy.
The Prime Minister of Spain urged that “the rise of artificial intelligence is unstoppable, but it cannot be ungovernable. And we need to govern it together.” He highlighted the need to act because “millions of people could be left unprotected” as many jobs will disappear and global inequality gaps may widen.
The European Union confirmed its readiness to continue sharing its own experience in understanding and governing AI through the AI Act and policy measures, as well as supporting research innovation, deployment, and capacity building. The EU reminded that as we shape the future of AI, we must do so with a clear commitment to a human-centric vision, grounded in fundamental freedoms and human rights, democratic values, and the rule of law.
