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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Diplomatic Debate Over Autonomous Weapons Heats Up
April 1, 2024
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.
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2023 Arms Control Person(s) of the Year Winner Announced
January 12, 2024
Workers and technicians at the U.S. Army’s Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado and the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky were selected as the 2023 Arms Control Persons of the Year.
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AI and the Bomb: Nuclear Strategy and Risk in the Digital Age
December 1, 2023
This book is a must-read for those seeking to understand the first signals of revolutionary change that AI is bringing to the challenge of preventing nuclear war.
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UN to Address Autonomous Weapons Systems
December 1, 2023
The First Committee of the UN General Assembly has called for a comprehensive study of lethal autonomous weapons systems, which some see as a first step to international regulations.
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Pentagon Struggles to Exploit Advances in AI
December 1, 2023
The Defense Department announced initiatives to appropriate private sector advances in artificial intelligence while still using AI responsibly.
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Biden Issues Executive Order on AI Safety
December 1, 2023
The President acted to ensure the “safe, secure, and trustworthy” application of artificial intelligence in response to growing public anxiety over AI’s potential dangers.
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The Risks That AI Poses for Nuclear Decision-Making: End of an Era
October 31, 2023
Special report roll-out on the risks that artificial intelligence poses to nuclear decision-making and strategic stability, co-hosted by the European Leadership Network (ELN) and the Arms Control Association (ACA).
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Pentagon Plans Mass Autonomous Weapons Deployment
October 1, 2023
The United States, unable to rely exclusively on human-operated weapons systems to prevail in a future war with China, must field autonomous weapons systems controlled by artificial intelligence, a senior defense official says.
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States Urge UN Investigation of Iran Drone Sales
September 1, 2023
Despite evidence that Iran exported drones to Russia in violation of Security Council restrictions, a probe appears unlikely after the UN Secretariat did not act on a similar request last year.
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Congressman Aims to Bolster U.S. Hypersonics Testing
July 1, 2023
The Republican chairman of a House Armed Services subcommittee agrees with the Pentagon that the development of hypersonic weapons systems needs to be accelerated.