UN committee advances 13 disarmament texts, including military AI resolution

The UN General Assembly’s First Committee has recommended 12 draft resolutions and one decision on disarmament and international security for the full Assembly to consider, including a measure on artificial intelligence in military applications that drew opposition from four countries.

The committee approved the AI resolution by 171 votes to four, with six abstentions. The draft says international law, including the UN Charter, applies throughout the life cycle of AI, including to AI-enabled military systems. It also encourages UN bodies to promote knowledge-sharing on the issue through voluntary contributions.

The other proposals covered education on disarmament and non-proliferation, women’s participation in arms control, compliance with disarmament agreements, depleted uranium munitions, and the relationship between disarmament and development. A separate decision concerned strengthening the system of arms-control, disarmament and non-proliferation treaties.

Only one text was approved without a vote: a new proposal introduced by El Salvador to establish a Global Mechanism on information and communications technologies and responsible state behaviour. Its thematic groups are scheduled to meet from 7 to 11 December, according to the UN account.

Votes on the remaining texts varied. A proposal on peaceful uses in international security passed by 109 votes to 54, with 19 abstentions; a text promoting multilateralism in disarmament passed by 128 to six, with 49 abstentions. The committee’s recommendations advance the texts to the General Assembly; they are not decisions by the full Assembly.