UN Holds First General Assembly Talks on Autonomous Weapons as Regulation Lags
Nations gathered at the United Nations in New York on Monday for the first General Assembly meeting focused on autonomous weapons, amid growing concerns over the lack of regulation for AI-driven military technology.
The talks aim to revive efforts to establish global rules for autonomous and AI-assisted weapons, which are increasingly used in conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Gaza.
Despite rising defence spending and the rapid development of AI military systems, internationally binding standards remain virtually non-existent.
Since 2014, countries under the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) have met in Geneva to discuss banning fully autonomous systems that operate without meaningful human control.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has set a 2026 deadline for states to agree on clear rules for AI weapon use.
However, human rights groups warn that consensus among governments is lacking.
Alexander Kmentt, head of arms control at Austria's foreign ministry, said urgent action is needed to prevent worst-case scenarios.
Monday’s meeting is not legally binding, but diplomats hope it will increase pressure on military powers that resist regulation due to concerns about losing battlefield advantages.
The meeting also addresses ethical and human rights concerns, as well as the use of autonomous weapons by non-state actors—issues not covered by the CCW.
Campaigners view the talks as a key test ahead of the next CCW round in September.
Patrick Wilcken, Amnesty International’s researcher on military, security and policing, said a legally binding treaty is essential due to the rapid pace of technological development.
In 2023, 164 states supported a UN General Assembly resolution urging the international community to address the risks of autonomous weapons.
While many countries support a binding global framework, the United States, Russia, China and India favour national guidelines or existing international laws.
A U.S. Pentagon spokesperson said autonomous weapons might pose less risk to civilians than conventional arms.
India, Russia and China did not respond to requests for comment.
In the absence of regulation, autonomous systems are spreading rapidly.
The Future of Life Institute has tracked around 200 autonomous weapon systems deployed across Ukraine, the Middle East and Africa.
Russian forces have used approximately 3,000 Veter kamikaze drones in Ukraine, which can autonomously detect and engage targets.
Ukraine has also deployed semi-autonomous drones, though its government declined to comment.
Israel has used AI systems to identify targets in Gaza and said it supports multilateral discussions and complies with international law.
Human Rights Watch warned last month that unregulated autonomous weapons pose threats to human rights and accountability, and could trigger an arms race.
Laura Nolan of Stop Killer Robots said there is little assurance that defence firms will develop AI weapons responsibly.
She added that industries generally cannot be trusted to self-regulate, and defence and tech companies are no exception.
UN holds first General Assembly meeting on autonomous weapons
Talks aim to push for global regulation amid rapid AI military growth
164 states backed a 2023 resolution urging urgent action
Source: REUTERS
