Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that artificial intelligence could begin deciding what happens on the battlefield as early as next year.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Zelenskyy said the rapid development of weapons had already become a global threat and called for peace before warfare reaches a new technological stage.
“And this is about finally slowing down the rapid development of weapons for killing, a process that has continued throughout this war, that has already become a global threat. We need to slow it down before we reach the next stage, because as early as next year, there is already a real possibility that AI, not only people, will begin to decide what happens on the battlefield.”
Zelenskyy said the world needed to end existing wars before artificial intelligence reaches that point. “And we need peace before we reach that point.”
He said AI remains largely digital today but could eventually move into the physical world and influence matter. “If you listen to some of the biggest believers in the development of AI, they say today AI still remains mostly digital, but one day AI will move from the digital world to shaping atoms.”
“And when that happens, we had better be at peace.”
Zelenskyy said Ukraine had already experienced major changes since Russia launched its full-scale war in 2022, but said the courage of people remained constant. “Today, nothing in the world works the same way it did, by the way, in 2022, except the courage of people. Everything has changed.”
He questioned whether human courage would continue to have the same role as artificial intelligence becomes more advanced.
“Who knows whether courage will still work the same way in the future.”
Zelenskyy said the international community must work to end existing wars before AI reaches a stage where it can shape battlefield decisions. “We certainly need to end the wars that already exist.”
He said Ukraine, like other countries, deserved security and called for peace to prevent further development of weapons designed for killing.
“Ukraine deserves security, just as all of you do, every country and every nation.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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