Disarmament in Review
Public Multi-stakeholder Dialogue: Addressing the risk of misuse: what can the AI community learn from the biotech industry?
May 29th, 2024
Our recent public event delved into the fascinating overlap between Artificial Intelligence and Biotechnology. We gathered prominent experts, including Eleonore Pauwels, Rik Bleijs, and Clarissa Rios, to dissect the convergence of these fields and the risks involved. Through engaging discussions, we explored strategies for responsible innovation and risk mitigation.
The next generation of AI practitioners from around the world meet in Estonia to learn about responsible innovation of AI for peace and security
March, 2024
On 14 and 15 February a select group of young Artificial Intelligence (AI) practitioners from around the world met in Tallinn for a two-day capacity-building workshop on Responsible AI for Peace and Security, organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in cooperation with the Tallinn University of Technology.
The workshop—the second in a series of four—aimed to provide up-and-coming AI practitioners with the opportunity to learn how to address the risks that civilian AI research and innovation may pose to international peace and security. Over two days, the young participants from diverse backgrounds engaged in interactive activities aimed at increasing their understanding of (a) how civilian AI research and innovation may pose risks to international peace and security; (b) how they could help prevent or mitigate those risks through responsible research and innovation; and (c) how they could contribute to the promotion of responsible AI for peace and security.
Through interactive seminars, live polls, and scenario-based red-teaming and blue-teaming exercises, the workshop gave participants a grounding in the field of responsible AI, the particular peace and security dimensions of the misuse of civilian AI, the international governance environment, and the chance to work through their own risk assessments, challenge ideas, and engage creatively.
The event gathered 18 participants from 13 countries, namely China, Egypt, Estonia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Lithuania, Philippines, Romania, Singapore, and Türkiye.
The workshop is part of an EU-funded initiative on Promoting Responsible Innovation in AI for Peace and Security, and forms part of an ongoing pillar focused on engaging with diverse sets of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students and providing in-person capacity building to introduce them to how the peace and security risks posed by the diversion and misuse of civilian AI development by irresponsible actors may be identified, prevented or mitigated in the research and innovation process or through other governance processes.
The successful workshop series will continue throughout 2024, along with pillars focused on educators and curriculum developers, as well as the AI industry and others.
For further information on the Responsible Innovation and AI activities of the Office for Disarmament Affairs, please contact Mr. Charles Ovink, Political Affairs Officer, at charles.ovink@un.org.
AI experts from around the world connect for a multi-stakeholder dialogue on responsible AI for peace and security
September 25th, 2023
On 13 and 14 September the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, and its partners at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) brought together 15 artificial intelligence (AI) experts from industry, academia, civil society and governance for two days of discussion. Over the course of the multi-stakeholder dialogue participants explored trends in AI research and innovation that may generate risks for peace and security, and looked at how such risks may be mitigated, including through the promotion of responsible innovation practices read more…
SIPRI and UNODA’s engagement with next generation AI practitioners
December 4th, 2023
From 16 to 17 November, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) organized a two-day capacity-building workshop on ‘Responsible AI for Peace and Security’ for a select group of STEM students.
The workshop—the first in a series of four—aimed to provide up-and-coming Artificial Intelligence (AI) practitioners the opportunity to learn how to address the risks that civilian AI research and innovation may pose to international peace and security.
The event, held in Malmö in collaboration with Malmö University and Umeå University, involved 24 participants from 17 countries, including Australia, Bangladesh, China, Ecuador, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Over two days, the participants engaged in interactive activities aimed at increasing their understanding of (a) how peaceful AI research and innovation may pose risks to international peace and security; (b) how they could help prevent or mitigate those risks through responsible research and innovation; and (c) how they could contribute to the promotion of responsible AI for peace and security.
The event featured the participation of professors from Umeå University and Malmö University.
The workshop series, which will continue into 2024, is part of an European Union-funded initiative on ‘Responsible Innovation in AI for Peace and Security,’ conducted jointly by SIPRI and UNODA.
The next iteration of the workshop will be held from 14 to15 February 2024, in Tallinn, Estonia in partnership with Tallinn University of Technology.
Funding Statement
This programme was made possible by the generous support from the European Union
