UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has set a deadline of 2026 for countries to establish clear regulations governing the use of AI weapons, although achieving consensus among nations remains a significant challenge.

Divisions among major nations, including the U.S., China, Russia, and India, are complicating efforts to reach an agreement on the regulation of AI-based weapons.

The U.S. maintains that existing international laws are sufficient and argues that AI weapons could potentially reduce civilian casualties.

Campaign groups are advocating for a legally binding treaty that addresses ethical and human rights concerns related to the use of autonomous weapons, particularly by non-state actors.

Campaigners emphasize the necessity of accountability and responsible development in the defense industry, expressing skepticism about self-regulation by technology firms.

The United Nations is calling for urgent global action to regulate autonomous weapons powered by artificial intelligence, particularly in light of their increasing deployment in conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Gaza.

While current discussions are non-binding, they are seen as a vital step toward creating a global treaty aimed at preventing the misuse of lethal AI technologies.

These campaigners view the upcoming discussions as a critical test for international cooperation in establishing a legal framework for the responsible use of autonomous weapons.

In 2023, 164 states supported a U.N. resolution urging the international community to take action against the risks posed by autonomous weapons, although major powers prefer national guidelines over new international regulations.

Despite ongoing discussions since 2014 under the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), there are still no binding international standards to regulate these autonomous weapons.

The support from 164 countries highlights a growing recognition of the need to address the risks associated with autonomous weapons, despite the preference of some major powers for existing laws.