Statement by Stop Killer Robots to Session 12 of the informal exchanges on AI in the military domain

The following statement was submitted by Stop Killer Robots for ‘Session 12: Next Steps on AI in the Military Domain’ of the informal exchanges on AI in the military domain, 15-17 June 2026

Thank you, Chair.

We urge states to take substantive next steps in their discussions on AI in the Military Domain, focusing on the responses that are required to the applications that carry the greatest risks of, or are already causing, harm.

As we have stated previously this week, we believe these are the issues of AI in the kill chain and other efforts towards ‘force multiplication’ that could challenge the cognitive limits of people to use systems.

Future discussions must continue to build on and draw from the substantial work that states and other stakeholders have now done towards the governance of autonomous weapons systems, and the principles and rules that should apply to the legal regulation of those systems.

Work on AI in the Military Domain should move forward through forums that are inclusive of all states and other stakeholders and can formulate strong rules, such as the UN General Assembly and we welcome proposals from states to place discussions on a more formal footing, such as through an Open Ended Working Group, as a means to move towards formulating more concrete and binding outcomes and rules.

As we are approaching the close of these consultations, Stop Killer Robots would like to end our remarks here by reminding delegations that there is currently a huge amount of public concern about AI in warfare – with chatbot tools people use in their everyday lives being linked to wars causing civilian casualties and destruction; companies we use to send our emails being linked to a campaign assessed to be genocide; and shocking reports of the automation of violence and of dehumanisation through digital tools that process data from the mass surveillance of people into outputs that are used for making lethal strikes.

There is widespread concern amongst civil society about the hugely harmful impacts on people that developments in military AI are already having, and agreement about the responsibility of states and companies to respond to and prevent these.

A broad range of academic and technical experts, as well as civil society from around the world, this week issued a Joint Statement on AI in Warfare. Stop Killer Robots endorsed this statement, which elaborates a range of concerns and calls for a halt to the use of AI tools in military targeting, adherence to international law, and transparency. We encourage all delegations to study this statement.

Humanitarian and ethical concerns are often not strongly reflected in the more technical discussions that take place in meetings such as these. However, they should be at the centre of states’ efforts to formulate normative and regulatory responses. We strongly encourage the international community to put the risks of harm to people, our dignity and autonomy, and our environment at the forefront of both their discussions on military AI and broader efforts to address the dangers posed by the rise of AI and autonomy in the use of force.

Thank you, Chair.