UN Discusses AI in Warfare as ICRC Warns of Amplified Destruction

UN Addresses Autonomous Weapons

The United Nations recently convened to discuss the threat posed by autonomous weapons. Laurent Gisel, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s (ICRC) legal warfare team, addressed the UN, highlighting the concerning pace of technological development in this area. This follows a September attempt by the UN to pass a treaty governing killer AI weapons, which was weakened by Russia and the US.

ICRC Warns of AI's Impact

Gisel stated that AI is already "amplifying the destruction, amplifying the violation of the law, amplifying the humanitarian harm caused by conflicts." He noted that the effects of AI on the battlefield are already visible, despite the slow pace of multilateral processes to address the issue. The UN announced a new initiative to grapple with the issue.

Current Use in Conflicts

Reports indicate that AI is currently being used to pick targets in active conflicts. Israel reportedly used an AI system called Lavender, powered by Microsoft, to select targets in Gaza. In Ukraine, AI-powered Russian drones are reportedly making decisions about human targets. The United States military has also declared itself an "AI-first" fighting force, with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announcing Project Meridian to guide future AI-powered autonomous weapons.

Concerns Over Speed and Human Control

A primary concern for Gisel is the speed of AI, which allows commanders to make decisions faster. However, this also accelerates the pace of mistakes. He expressed worry about the level of human control retained when targets are created and prosecuted at higher speeds and frequencies. Gisel noted that humans tend to trust AI systems, especially when under stress or needing to deliver quickly, which can lead to insufficient vetting of AI-generated kill lists, as reportedly occurred with the Israel Defense Forces' use of Lavender.