AI for Safety: OPCW Chief at Berlin Confab

Published Date: 05/07/2024

Director-General calls for continuous discussion to ensure Artificial Intelligence enhances international arms control

BERLIN, Germany—4 July 2024—The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Fernando Arias, met with senior officials and participated in a conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in Berlin on 28 June 2024. The event, hosted by the German Federal Foreign Office, aimed to discuss the risks, challenges, and opportunities of AI in relation to WMDs. 

In his keynote address, the Director-General emphasized the need for continuous discussion to ensure AI enhances international arms control. He highlighted the significance of adapting the Chemical Weapons Convention to address emerging technologies, including AI. The Director-General commended the Government of Germany for supporting the OPCW's mission and promoting responsible management of emerging technologies.

During his visit, the Director-General met with State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office, H.E. Ms Susanne Baumann, to discuss the implementation of the CWC and emerging challenges from AI developments. He also informed Ms Baumann of the upcoming Global Conference on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Advancing the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The Director-General held a bilateral meeting with Ambassador Sautter to discuss the potential benefits and threats of AI in chemical non-proliferation. The OPCW has been monitoring emerging technologies, including AI, since 1998, and has built its new Centre for Chemistry and Technology to strengthen these efforts.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, overseeing the global endeavour to eliminate chemical weapons. The OPCW has verified the destruction of all declared chemical weapons stockpiles, totalling 72,304 metric tonnes of chemical agents, under its strict verification regime.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an intergovernmental organisation working towards a world free of chemical weapons. The OPCW has 193 Member States and is responsible for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention. Germany has been an active member of the OPCW since the Convention entered into force in 1997 and has supported diverse OPCW projects and activities with voluntary contributions amounting to over €13 million.

 The German Federal Foreign Office is the foreign ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany, responsible for promoting German foreign policy and supporting international peace and security.

FAQs:

Q: What is the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)?

A: The OPCW is an intergovernmental organisation working towards a world free of chemical weapons, with 193 Member States, responsible for implementing the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Q: What is the purpose of the conference on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)?

A: The conference aims to discuss the risks, challenges, and opportunities of AI in relation to WMDs, promoting responsible management of emerging technologies.

Q: What is the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)?

A: The CWC is an international treaty banning the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons, with 193 States Parties working towards its implementation.

Q: How does the OPCW address emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence?

A: The OPCW has been monitoring emerging technologies, including AI, since 1998, and has built its new Centre for Chemistry and Technology to strengthen these efforts, ensuring the responsible management of emerging technologies.

Q: What is the significance of the OPCW's verification regime?

A: The OPCW's verification regime has enabled the destruction of all declared chemical weapons stockpiles, totalling 72,304 metric tonnes of chemical agents, ensuring a safer world free of chemical weapons.

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