Source: United Nations (Video News)
Briefing by Robin Geiss, The Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, on anticipating the impact of scientific developments on international peace and security, during the Security Council, 9753rd meeting.
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The Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, Robin Geiss, today (21 Oct) told the Security Council that as the scientific and technological landscape evolves at a “blistering pace, we often lack a clear sense of what is being developed, by whom, and with which resulting impacts, including for international peace and security.”
Geiss, briefing a Council meeting on “anticipating the impact of scientific developments on international peace and security,” said “within the next 5 to 10 years, quantum technology will impact peace and security in many significant ways.”
First, he said, “it will disrupt information and communication security by making traditional encryption techniques ineffective and therefore obsolete.”
Second, he continued, “quantum sensors will enable the detection of objects underground or underwater, revolutionizing warfare, on the one hand, and monitoring and verification efforts, on the other.”
Finally, Geiss added, “quantum computing will unlock a new era for AI by enabling computation of models that cannot currently be run on even the most powerful computers.”
Also briefing the Council, the President of the Foundation Council (DCAF) at the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, Amin Awad called on member states to “act with courage and foresight to ensure that emerging technologies fulfil their promise to advance global peace and security.”
Awad said, scientific advancements in neurotechnology, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence and quantum computing are already reshaping our world,” and added that “no effort should be spared to ensure these developments are for the benefit of human and not for evil.”
For her part, Japan’s Ambassador for Science and Technology, Kaji Misako, said, “the world must join forces to support innovation while properly mitigating the risks and misuse of emerging technologies,” and noted that Japan “has led the international discussion on the governance of advanced AI systems to achieve safe, secure, trustworthy AI, including through the Hiroshima AI process, launched in May 2023.”
Speaking to reporters outside the Council before the briefing, Swiss Ambassador Pascale Christine Baeriswyl, joined by her Sierra Leonian and Slovenian counterparts, said “rapid scientific advances can accelerate the realization of the aspirations of the United Nations across all three pillars of its work sustainable development, human rights, as well as peace and security. We intend to prepare the Council for the future to act early and manage uncertainty. To that end, we will seek expert advice and collaborate with academic and research institutions to provide the Council with the needed evidence based information.”
Council members are currently negotiating a draft presidential statement proposed by Switzerland in connection with today’s meeting on the impacts of scientific developments on peace and security.