Emerging Technology
The unregulated development and deployment of emerging technologies—referring to scientific and technical developments that, if applied in the military sphere, could have transformative effects on the future of warfare in unpredictable and potentially hazardous, destabilizing ways—could increase the risk of accidental and unintended conflict escalation. Whether manifested in new domains, new applications, or new military capabilities, these technologies can include hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence-enabled capabilities, cyberspace operations, counterspace capabilities, and the like.
The Arms Control Association (ACA), in conjunction with other experts and organizations, has proposed various measures to reduce such risks, as laid out in issue briefs, reports, articles in Arms Control Today, and more. To receive updates on developments in this field, join today or sign up for our regular updates list.
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- By José Ignacio Salamanca Friedlaender
Governments pledge human control and rigorous oversight, but such assurances cannot be demonstrated while AI-nuclear systems remain fully classified.
Belgium is conducting multiple criminal investigations after 17 recent unexplained drone sightings over its airports, nuclear power plants, and military sites. NATO countries fear such flights could be testing allied defenses.
Members of the UN General Assembly’s First Committee voted overwhelmingly to approve two resolutions calling for greater international scrutiny of the risks posed by the military use of AI, with Russia and the United States in notable opposition.
“Humanity’s fate cannot be left to an algorithm,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told participants.
The military is seeking vast numbers of cheap, disposable drones along with fewer highly capable but more expensive unmanned combat vehicles.
The U.S. is seeking to become the world’s premier drone provider instead of ceding that space to China or Turkey.
- By Lt. Gen. John "Jack" N.T. Shanahan
The integration of AI across the NC2/NC3 enterprise may create false confidence in the information that is shaping leaders' situational awareness and influencing nuclear-related decisions.
- By Yanliang Pan and Daihan Cheng
An alternative governance framework is needed—one that can regulate the growing AI industry’s international security impact as a global externality.
- By Alexander Kmentt
The widespread adoption of these weapons raises urgent ethical questions and an imperative for action.
- Reviewed by Herbert Lin
This book offers rare insights linking new information processing technologies for battlefield awareness to theoretical computer science.