The United Nations Security Council will hold a high-level open debate on Wednesday on artificial intelligence (AI) under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda, chaired by Republic of Korea President Lee Jae Myung.
Briefings will come from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Yoshua Bengio and Yejin Choi (Stanford University).
The debate will explore AI’s implications for peace and security, focusing on mitigating risks, maximising benefits, and defining the Council’s role. Key questions include how member states can responsibly use AI, ensure compliance with international law, and strengthen UN initiatives on AI governance.
This is the third formal Security Council meeting on AI, following sessions led by the UK in 2023 and the US in 2024. Discussions have also taken place in specialised forums like the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). The General Assembly has further advanced AI governance through the Pact for the Future and the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI (IISP-AI).
Council members broadly agree that AI offers potential benefits for peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and humanitarian work, while misuse could threaten international security. Views differ, however, on the Council’s role: some advocate proactive monitoring of AI risks, while others prefer broader discussions in the General Assembly.
As AI rapidly evolves, the debate will help shape how the UN balances innovation with security and guides the responsible use of AI on the global stage.
About The Author
