AI for Peace Weekly Insights

We’re excited to bring you our brand-new feature: AI for Peace Weekly Insights! Each week, we’ll share updates, trends, and key developments at the intersection of AI and peace, offering fresh perspectives on both risks and opportunities to inspire action and spark meaningful dialogue within our community of practice.

Have news to share or insights to add? Drop us a comment—we’d love to hear from you!

Subscribe to AI for Peace Weekly Insights to receive updates every Monday, keeping you informed on the latest headlines and developments in the ever-changing AI and peace landscape.

Reflections on the Paris AI Action Summit – A Peacebuilder’s Perspective – Part 1

The AI Action Summit, held in Paris on February 10-11, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the global conversation on artificial intelligence. AI for Peace’s Director attended the Summit to examine how AI is shaping international security, peace, democracy, and human rights. The discussions were wide-ranging and, at times, contradictory, but they provided critical insights into shifting government and stakeholder approaches to AI governance. This op-ed presents key takeaways from a peacebuilding perspective, beginning with the shift from AI safety to adoption, the growing divide among global powers, and the potential rise of a new AI Cold War. Read more

Munich 2025: The Future of Global Power

The Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2025 unfolds amid a shifting world order, where emerging powers challenge traditional hegemonies. This year’s conference serves as a litmus test for whether the world can embrace a new power balance or fall deeper into fragmentation. With rising conflicts, climate instability, AI-driven threats, and weakening alliances, MSC 2025 marks a critical juncture for global security. Read more

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Summit in Paris Looks at AI and the Future of Democracy

During the AI Action Summit, the Stanford Cyber Policy Center and the Paris Bar Association hosted a roundtable on AI and the Future of Democracy: Challenges and Opportunities at the Maison du Barreau in Paris. As an official side event, it brought together Stanford experts to discuss AI’s impact on democratic institutions and the need to uphold democratic values. Panelists highlighted how AI’s transformation of text into numbers is reshaping information processing, creating both opportunities and risks. They stressed the importance of democratizing AI in its use, development, benefits, and governance, emphasizing that AI is not just a technical challenge but a societal, ethical, and political one. Watch the recording here

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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 to urgent global challenges. The Paris Peace Forum selected 50 standout projects from 770 applicants across 111 countries for their potential impact. Among them, Disha, an AI-driven disaster response tool from the UN Global Pulse Lab, analyzes satellite images to assess damage and direct aid efficiently. Another, Phoenix, helps mediators address online polarization by ethically monitoring social media discourse for conflict resolution. Read more

AI, war and (in)humanity: the role of human emotions in military decision-making

Modern armed conflicts are increasingly complex and remote due to rapid technological advances, raising concerns about machines' ability to apply human traits like empathy and caution in high-stakes decisions. While automation enhances precision in military tasks like target identification, delegating such choices to AI poses serious humanitarian risks. In this post, Dr. Joanna Wilson, Lecturer in Law at the University of the West of Scotland, advocates for the urgent "rehumanization" of military decision-making. Emotions, often seen as liabilities, are essential for moral reasoning and judgment. AI should therefore be used only to support human agency, not replace it. Read more

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Goma is threatened by conflict and a volcano: we’ve created a handbook to help hotspots like these

Goma, a city of two million, faces more than just rebel takeovers—it's also just 12 miles (19 km) from Mount Nyiragongo, one of the world's most dangerous active volcanoes. Nyiragongo’s lava can flow at over 60 miles (96 km) per hour, far faster than any human can run. Its 2021 eruption displaced thousands and killed at least 250 people, while a 2002 eruption buried 13% of the city in lava. The DRC highlights how millions in fragile, conflict-ridden areas are at risk from both human-made and natural disasters. Climate change further amplifies these threats, making crises even more severe when they collide. Read more

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EconAI Introduced the Conflict Forecast App

EconAI announced last week the development of the Conflict Forecast App, created as part of the WFP Innovation Accelerator and in collaboration with INNODEMS. This web-based tool helps decision-makers anticipate access disruptions in conflict-affected regions by providing data-driven insights on infrastructure vulnerabilities and humanitarian risks. Key features include three-month conflict forecasts at the subnational level, an overlay of conflict predictions with infrastructure and socio-economic data for contingency planning, and interactive visualization tools for mapping risks. Currently being piloted with key partners, including the Kenya Red Cross, this app is a step toward proactive, evidence-based humanitarian response. Read more

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Gender Violence in the Digital Age

In a discussion with The Regulatory Review, women's rights expert Rangita de Silva de Alwis explores the complexities of online gender-based violence. While digital platforms foster connection, they also enable manipulation and abuse, reinforcing power imbalances that harm women and girls. She highlights the unique challenges posed by technology’s speed and anonymity, as well as the weaponization of AI for deepfakes and objectification. Beyond individual harm, she warns that online abuse has broad societal consequences, potentially deterring women from public life. Read more

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Hate-speech failures by Meta and X undermine German election

Meta and X recently failed a test to remove extremist hate-speech ads, raising concerns about their role in spreading harmful content ahead of Germany’s election. The corporate accountability group Ekō submitted ten ads featuring clear incitements to violence, including calls for the gassing of immigrants, burning of mosques, and dehumanizing rhetoric. Some ads also contained AI-generated images depicting violent scenes, such as synagogues on fire. Despite violating platform policies, these ads were approved, highlighting serious accountability issues in content moderation. Read more

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To China, DeepSeek is more than an app—it's a strategic turning point

“But to Chinese policymakers and defense analysts, DeepSeek means far more than local pride in a hometown kid made good. They view it as a breakthrough that reinforces China’s strategic autonomy and reshapes the balance of power in the U.S.-China AI competition. By demonstrating an ability to innovate under sanctions, bypass Western technological barriers, and accelerate AI advancements on its own terms, China has sent a stark message: it can and will compete at the highest levels of AI development.” 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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