Wong warns AI could trigger nuclear war at UN, urges global governance

At the United Nations Security Council in New York on Sept. 26, 2025, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned that artificial intelligence could trigger nuclear war if left unchecked, arguing that the technology is reshaping the foundations of modern society and has the potential to transform warfare.

Wong stressed that AI’s role in nuclear and autonomous weapons heightens the risk of rapid escalation, noting that decisions about life and death have historically been constrained by human judgement and accountability. “Nuclear warfare has so far been constrained by human judgement – by leaders who bear responsibility and by human conscience,” she said. “AI has no such concern, nor can it be held accountable. These weapons threaten to change war itself and they risk escalation without warning.” She added that “Decisions of life and death must never be delegated to machines.” Wong urged the Security Council to take charge of global efforts to regulate AI, calling for rules and standards to ensure its safe and ethical use, along with measures to foster responsible state behavior, build trust among nations, and ensure peacekeeping missions deploy technology safely.

She linked the discussion to a broader push for international governance, arguing that AI must be guided by human values even as it offers opportunities in education, healthcare, peacekeeping and climate action. Wong stressed that the United Nations Charter should be renewed in spirit, with a collective commitment to ensure AI serves humanity rather than undermining it. “We must build a digital future of peace and security. A tomorrow worthy of our children,” she said.

Australia is seeking a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for 2029–30, and Wong pledged Canberra’s expertise in digital resilience and regional cooperation as part of that bid. She also endorsed the “Responsible AI in the Military Domain” summit, which helped pave the way for a UN resolution on the military use of AI. In her remarks, she underscored the need for a united approach among nations to regulate AI’s military applications and to safeguard civilian protections in any deployment.

Domestically, Australia’s Productivity Commission has pressed the government to regulate AI more actively, making it a central topic at the Productivity Roundtable in July. Wong’s UN speech followed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s address to world leaders earlier in the week, a day after Australia formally recognised Palestine as a state. Albanese asserted that Hamas can have no role in Palestine’s future and renewed calls for the immediate and dignified return of hostages, while the White House criticized the move as “more talk and not enough action” from some allies. The timing underscored ongoing tensions between diplomatic gestures and the practical considerations of regional security and stability.

Taken together, Wong’s remarks reflect a broader international push to harness AI’s benefits while designing guardrails to prevent misuse and unintended consequences. Governments are weighing how to support innovations in education, healthcare, climate science and peacekeeping while ensuring that advances in AI do not destabilize strategic balance or erode public safety. The Security Council discussions come as nations prepare for a series of high-stakes policy negotiations on AI governance, including potential binding rules, norms for transparency, and verification mechanisms that could shape global norms for years to come.