Mitigating the Risks of AI in Nuclear Operations

Description

A special hybrid policy briefing featuring the inaugural director of the U.S. Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Lt. Gen. John “Jack” N.T. Shanahan and a panel of distinguished experts to explain the AI-nuclear weapons nexus and and examine options to mitigate the risks.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) integration in nuclear weapons operations is occurring at the same time we face a complex and growing array of nuclear weapons-related dangers. As the declaration issued at the July 14-16 Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on AI and Nuclear War noted its Rome Declaration issued July 16: "In the midst of a worsening nuclear arms race, we are embarking on an equally dangerous AI race."
 
There is a growing body of research and scholarship that strongly suggests that unconstrained introduction of AI into nuclear weapons operations (command, control, communications, as well as nuclear planning and decision-making) may lead to greater nuclear instability and increase the risk of nuclear war.
 
While major nuclear armed states have expressed their support for the principle of keeping "a human in the loop" regarding decisions regarding the possible use of nuclear weapons, they have not agreed on how to operationalize and enforce that concept and no bilateral or multilateral discussions on the matter are currently underway.
 

On Sept. 11 the Arms Control Association hosted a special event featuring: Lt. Gen. (retired) Jack Shanahan and a follow-on panel of experts, including:

  • Herb Lin, Senior Research Scholar and Hank J. Holland Fellow in Cyber Policy and Security at the Hoover Institution and Stanford University.
  • Matthew Sharp, Senior Nuclear Fellow at the Center for Nuclear Security Policy at MIT and former acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for nuclear affairs.
  • Erin Dumbacher, Stanton Nuclear Security Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense and National Security program at the Council on Foreign Relations, where her research focuses on the impact of emerging technologies with nuclear weapons and security, nuclear force posture, and space systems. 

The speakers explained the AI-nuclear weapons nexus and examined options to mitigate the risks. 

Watch the recording on our Youtube channel and read Lt. Gen. Shanahan's prepared remarks here.

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Events and Remarks

Addressing the Growing Threats Posed by AI in Nuclear Operations

August 2026

Last month, I and two members of ACA's Board of Directors, Maryann Cusimano Love and Matthew Bunn,were privileged to participate in  a highly significant event held at the Vatican: "The Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Nuclear War."

The July 14-16 gathering was a rare convocation of senior experts from key AI companies, Nobel laureates in physics and peace, faith leaders, including from the Vatican, and some of the world’s top nuclear weapons policy experts.

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