‘Machine warfare is coming’: US, China urged to address military AI as global rules stall

Robin Geiss, director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (Unidir), warned in Beijing on Tuesday that "machine warfare is coming" due to the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into military operations. Geiss emphasized the need for pragmatic dialogue between the international community and industry on military AI, as a comprehensive global regulatory convention is unlikely in the near future. He highlighted that AI is accelerating the pace of battle and driving the development of autonomous weapon systems. Geiss described the current global security environment as "dangerous," citing proliferation pressures, global tensions, and a lack of discussion among major powers regarding nuclear weapons, all exacerbated by AI's destabilizing potential.