ARUSHA: PARLIAMENTS have been urged to take a leading role in regulating the rapidly advancing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military systems, to prevent the technology from undermining global peace, security and human rights.
The call was made yesterday by Malaysian Member of Parliament, Mr Hasmi Mohamed during a panel discussion on the role of parliaments in securing peace in the age of military AI at the ongoing 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Arusha.
Mr Mohamed said the rapid integration of AI into military command and control, intelligence analysis, surveillance, targeting and autonomous weapons systems is creating risks that could outpace existing laws, regulations and public understanding.
He warned that the race among countries to achieve leadership in advanced AI creates strong incentives to move faster than regulation, raising fundamental questions about accountability when machines contribute to decisions over the use of military force.
“I believe our discussions will be practical,” Mr Mohamed said, stressing the need for parliamentarians to focus on concrete measures they could take to promote international peace and security.
He said the growing capabilities of AI went beyond earlier concerns about so-called killer robots, with advances potentially posing serious risks to humanity if the technology was deployed without effective human control and accountability.
According to him, AI governance at the international level was increasingly developing along two parallel tracks, with one focusing on civilian AI and its social and economic implications, while the other, which remained less developed, addressed risks arising specifically from military AI and weapons.
“However, the two cannot be completely separated because advances in general AI can quickly acquire military applications,” he said.
Mr Mohamed challenged parliamentarians to examine who should be held responsible when AI contributes to a military decision and how meaningful human control and transparency could be maintained.
He also questioned how legislatures could effectively scrutinise defence procurement and policies when the technologies involved were highly complex, increasingly opaque and developing at unprecedented speed.
“Are we merely spectators in this debate?” he asked, urging MPs to use their legislative and oversight powers to ensure that military AI remained subject to democratic control and international law.
He said parliaments could establish safeguards through legislation, government oversight, budget scrutiny and international parliamentary cooperation.
Such measures, he added, were necessary to ensure that the development and deployment of military AI complied with international humanitarian law and human rights principles.
The discussion was held under the IPU Standing Committee on Peace and International Security, with participants expected to examine ways of preventing harm, strengthening accountability and shaping global governance of emerging military technologies.
Mr Mohamed said the debate should look beyond the technology itself and focus on the responsibilities of elected representatives in determining how AI was developed, procured and used by states.
He said parliamentarians had a responsibility to ensure that technological advancement did not outpace democratic oversight.
The IPU has previously adopted a resolution addressing autonomous weapons systems, reflecting growing international concern over the implications of emerging military technologies.
The Arusha assembly, which brings together parliamentarians from around the world, is providing a platform for lawmakers to debate pressing global peace and security challenges and explore stronger international cooperation.
