Countries are convening at the United Nations on Monday to revive discussions on setting global rules for autonomous weapons systems powered by artificial intelligence, as concerns mount that the pace of regulation is falling far behind rapid technological advances.
AI-driven and autonomous weaponry are already influencing conflicts in places like Ukraine and Gaza. Rising global defense budgets are expected to further accelerate the adoption of such technologies in military operations.
Despite the growing deployment of these systems, the creation of international laws to govern their use has made little progress. Legally binding global standards remain largely absent.
Since 2014, member states of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) have met in Geneva to explore ways to ban fully autonomous systems—those operating without significant human oversight—and to regulate others.
The United Nations Secretary-General has set a 2026 deadline for nations to agree on clear rules surrounding the use of AI weapons. Still, rights organizations caution that a lack of consensus among governments is a major obstacle.
Austria’s top arms control official warned that immediate action is needed to avoid the risks experts have long highlighted. According to him, without swift regulation, the world could face dangerous consequences.
This Monday’s gathering in New York marks the UN General Assembly’s first meeting focused solely on autonomous weapons. Although the event isn’t legally binding, diplomats hope it will increase international pressure on military powers reluctant to accept regulations that might weaken their strategic edge.
Advocacy groups believe this meeting could help address critical issues not covered by the CCW, such as the ethical and human rights implications of autonomous weapons and their use by non-state actors. They hope it will lead to the adoption of a legal framework.
“This needs to be dealt with through a treaty that sets clear limits. Technology is advancing too rapidly to leave this unregulated,” said a military and policing expert from Amnesty International.
“The notion of delegating life-and-death decisions to machines is deeply troubling,” he added.
Growing Tensions Over an AI Arms Race
The New York discussions follow a 2023 UN General Assembly resolution, supported by 164 countries, urging swift action to address the risks of autonomous weaponry.
While many nations support a legally binding international agreement, major powers like the United States, Russia, China, and India favor national regulations or relying on existing laws. U.S. defense officials argue that current legal frameworks are sufficient and suggest that autonomous weapons could potentially be safer for civilians than traditional ones.
India, Russia, and China have not publicly responded to recent inquiries on their positions.
Meanwhile, autonomous systems continue to spread rapidly. Researchers at the Future of Life Institute have identified around 200 autonomous weapon platforms in use across conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa.
Russian forces are reported to have deployed around 3,000 “Veter” drones in Ukraine, which can detect and attack targets independently. Ukraine has also made use of semi-autonomous drones, although officials there have declined to comment.
In Gaza, AI tools have reportedly been used to select targets. Israel’s delegation in Geneva stated that the country adheres to international law and supports international discussions on the matter.
Nevertheless, human rights advocates argue that accountability remains a major unresolved issue. A recent report warned that without proper regulation, autonomous weapons could escalate into a full-blown arms race and severely undermine human rights protections.
Activists, including those from the Stop Killer Robots campaign, express skepticism about relying on industry self-regulation. One campaigner stressed that defense and tech companies should not be trusted to police themselves when developing lethal technologies.
