AI for Peace Weekly Insights

Munich Security Conference: Bavarian Science Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security Research

AI for Peace Founding Director, Branka Panic, spoke at the kickoff event of a newly founded Bavaria Science Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security Research, held on February 13 as an official event of the Munich Security Conference (MSC 2025). The event was entitled “Pushing the Frontiers: Assessing the Opportunities and Risks of Digital Technologies for Peace and War” and shed light on how technological innovations - in particular artificial intelligence (AI) - influence security and peace. Read more

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AI Action Summit: AI at a Geopolitical Crossroads: The Tension Between Acceleration and Regulation

The AI Action Summit in Paris highlighted a global divide on AI development strategies. While the U.S. and China prioritize rapid innovation, their approaches differ, with the U.S. focusing on private sector growth and China emphasizing state-backed initiatives. Europe favors strict regulations, and India advocates for a balanced, collective global approach to maximize AI’s benefits. These differing strategies reflect global competition and raise questions about balancing national interests with international security. Read more

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Hate speech on X spiked in the months after Elon Musk's purchase, study finds

Hate speech on the social media platform 'X' surged by nearly 50% in the months following Elon Musk’s acquisition, compared to the period before the purchase, according to a new analysis. Researchers, including those from the University of California, Berkeley, also discovered that the number of bot and bot-like accounts remained steady throughout Musk’s tenure as CEO until June 2023. Read more

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Weaponizing Data Against Democracy, by Jayati Ghosh, Project Syndicate

“Maintaining control over official data is at the heart of the authoritarian project, driving a fundamental shift in how public information is accessed and used. Nowhere is this more evident than in India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has systematically undermined and weaponized the statistics authorities.” Read more

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AI, digital technologies threatening information integrity, UN warns

The United Nations highlighted that the rise of artificial intelligence and rapid digital technology growth have intensified challenges related to truth and information integrity. During a high-level briefing, concerns were raised about the increasing threat of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech driven by AI, which could erode public trust and social cohesion. Read more

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Tech Companies Pledged to Protect Elections from AI — Here’s How They Did

A year ago, 27 artificial intelligence companies and social media platforms, including Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and TikTok, signed an accord at the Munich Security Conference, acknowledging the risks of AI-generated disinformation in undermining elections. They warned that the undisclosed creation and distribution of deceptive AI election content could threaten electoral integrity. This brief evaluates the degree to which companies met their AI Elections Accord commitments to address AI-generated election disinformation, as self-reported by the companies, and concludes that voluntary industry commitments are insufficient without enforceable regulations and external oversight. Read more

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The Munich Security Conference Provides an Opportunity to Improve on the AI Elections Accord

As the Accord’s one-year term ends, efforts to combat AI-generated disinformation must continue. While AI’s impact on last year’s elections was less than feared, there were deepfake videos, unreliable news sites, and confusion over authentic political audio. Foreign adversaries, including Russia, Iran, and China, used generative AI to interfere in elections, with Romania even annulling its presidential election due to Russian interference. As AI tools become more accessible, companies must invest in trust and safety to counter manipulation in elections and the growing misuse of AI for scams and cyberattacks. Read more

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Ex-Google chief warns AI could be weaponized by terrorists

Former Google executive Eric Schmidt has called for government oversight of private tech firms developing AI, warning that excessive regulation could stifle innovation. He expressed concern that nations like North Korea, Iran, or Russia could misuse AI to create biological weapons, highlighting the "extreme risks" of the technology. Schmidt advocated for a balanced approach to ensure proper oversight without hindering AI development. Read more

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A stepping stone for more? Progress on the protection of civilian populations from ICT activities during armed conflict

States face the challenge of defining international legal limits on ICT activities during armed conflicts, following over two decades of discussions in UN forums. Significant progress was made with the adoption of the first humanitarian ICT resolution at the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 2024. This resolution sets the path for ongoing multilateral efforts in the UN Open-Ended Working Group, the ICT workstream of the Global Initiative on IHL, and the ICRC’s digital emblem project. Read more

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Groundbreaking AI projects showcased at AI Action Summit in Paris

At the 2025 AI Action Summit in the Grand Palais, global leaders and innovators showcased AI solutions addressing urgent global challenges. The Paris Peace Forum highlighted 50 standout projects from over 770 applicants worldwide. Notable initiatives included Disha, an AI-driven disaster response tool that analyzes satellite imagery to assess damage and direct aid, and Phoenix, an AI-powered peacebuilding platform that monitors social media discourse to detect polarization and aid conflict resolution efforts. Read more

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SIPRI hosts an expert workshop on military artificial intelligence

On 3–4 February, SIPRI hosted a workshop in Stockholm on bias in military AI and its implications for compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL), gathering experts from organizations like the Red Cross, Palantir, OpenAI, and various governments. Participants explored how AI bias can impact IHL compliance, a topic that remains underexamined despite AI's potential to perpetuate and amplify biases. Insights from the workshop will inform SIPRI’s ongoing research project, which aims to clarify the concept of bias in military AI, its effects on IHL, and ways to support regulatory efforts, culminating in a final report funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. Read more

This weekly review aims to spark dialogue and inspire the AI for Peace community of practice to continue advancing their efforts toward lasting peace. Visit our website to explore more resources, insights, and opportunities to engage with our work— www.aiforpeace.org

If we’ve missed any significant developments, let us know! Share your top news from last week in the comments, including a link—we’re always eager to stay updated on the latest trends and insights.

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