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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.
| CHARTS | PROJECTS | REPORTS |
- By Julia Elizabeth Rodríguez Acosta
Despite the growing debate over the dangers of AI, the 2026 nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference failed to address the nexus between AI and nuclear weapons.
Scientists writing in Science disclosed that their experiments used AI to design and manufacture, for the first time, viable viruses with genomes not found in nature.
- By Daryl G. Kimball
These two existential challenges—disarming AI and preventing nuclear war—can no longer be understood or governed in isolation. Immediate and decisive action is required to counter these growing nuclear dangers before it is too late.
In a declaration issued at a conference at the Vatican, the laureates and other experts called for an international treaty prohibiting “reckless integration” of AI in nuclear weapons operations.
In two new directives, the administration claims to seek accelerated adoption of advanced AI models by the national security establishment but also incorporates new restraints.
- By Maryann Cusimano Love
Leo XIV goes beyond calls for AI regulation and safety and says that any technological advancement detatched from ethics and human responsibilities exacerbate conflict instead of building a just peace.
- By Douglas B. Shaw, Stephen Herzog, and William C. Potter
Organizers of a new initiative say governments, AI firms, security experts and the global epistemic community concerned with human survival must jointly shape technology before today’s choices become tomorrow’s constraints.
The new rules would impose a regulatory framework for autonomous weapons and military artificial intelligence that emphasizes human judgment and ultimate human responsibility, while also endorsing the Pentagon’s embrace of the technology.
UN member states and non-governmental organizations met in June to discuss artificial intelligence in the military domain and its implications for international peace and security.