UNIDIR and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea are organizing a side event at the United Nations General Assembly First Committee exploring emerging artificial intelligence-driven technologies and their implications for nuclear weapons systems and the global nuclear order.
This event will bring together young professionals who will share insights and offer policy recommendations addressing the AI-nuclear nexus. The discussion will build on educational initiatives carried out throughout the year by the Republic of Korea, UNIDIR and others to equip the next generation with relevant knowledge and empower them to participate actively in arms control and disarmament discussions. The overall goal of these efforts is to ensure the long-term resilience of the arms control and disarmament architecture in light of ongoing technological changes.
Potential topics to be addressed include:
- What are the main risks and opportunities that AI poses for the global nuclear order?
- What measures are needed to prevent and/or mitigate these risks?
- What are key aspects of an ethical approach to the use of AI? Is it possible to apply this approach to AI in the military domain?
- What can be done to avoid the risk that AI and technology development will increase geopolitical gaps and augment existing disparities among nations?
- What role can AI and other emerging technologies play as tools for improving monitoring and international cooperation to reduce nuclear risk?
- What role should human judgement and control play in nuclear decision-making as AI technologies become increasingly integrated into the military domain?
Agenda
Opening remarks
Youth experts forum
Speakers
- Jan Hendrik Mannsperger, Graduate Professional, UNIDIR
- Lee Yongjae, Representative of Youth Envoys for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation programme
- Jo Yeonwoo, Representative of Youth Envoys for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation programme
Further details will be added in due course.
When and where
Friday, 16 October 2026 | 13:15 – 14:30 EDT | Room A, UN Headquarters, New York.
Participants
The event is open to Member States representatives, civil society and academics. Kindly note that UNIDIR is not able to grant access to the UN Headquarters for those who are not already in possession of the the UN accreditation.
Further information
For any questions, please contact Renata Hessmann Dalaqua at renata.hessmanndalaqua@un.org.
In partnership with
