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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 | REPORTS |
The widespread deployment of autonomous weapons systems and the integration of artificial intelligence into nuclear command, control, and communications systems pose novel threats to strategic stability that are not addressed by existing U.S. and multilateral initiatives to mitigate the dangers of artificial intelligence.
- By Alexander Hoppenbrouwers
Division within the Global South makes it more difficult for states favoring legally binding autonomous weapons systems regulation to achieve consensus.
In a new report, António Guterres reaffirmed the need to preserve human control over the use of force and said “[t]he autonomous targeting of humans by machines is a moral line that must not be crossed.”
The $360 million deal would be the first U.S. sale of attack drones to the self-governing island.
The Senate should endorse the amendment introduced by Sen. Ed Markey stating it is the policy of the United States to keep a 'human in the loop' for all nuclear weapons employment decisions. (July 2024)
ACA memorandum on nuclear weapons and autonomous systems submitted in response to a letter from the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs inviting civil society organizations to submit their views on autonomous weapons systems.
- Kelsey Davenport
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said it is unacceptable for any party to use drones near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after two drones struck targets in the nearby town of Enerhodar.
- Michael Klare
Despite voicing strong support for regulating autonomous weapons, an international conference reached no conclusion on how that should be done.
- Michael Klare
The United States convened a conference on autonomous weapons in March, Austria has set one for April and the UN General Assembly plans a debate on the topic at its fall meeting.