Experts from around the world started their two-day discussions on nuclear weapons reduction in Yokohama on Tuesday, with the impact of artificial intelligence on the agenda.
The fourth meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World Without Nuclear Weapons focuses on rebuilding the arms control system, with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at its center.
The 15 experts from the nuclear haves and have-nots, including nuclear superpowers such as the United States, China and Russia, some of whom are participating online, will also focus on the risks that artificial intelligence and other new technologies pose to nuclear disarmament.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said in a video message at the meeting that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea’s nuclear and missile development and rising tensions in the Middle East have further deepened divisions and confrontations in the world.
Therefore, it is necessary to strongly emphasize the importance of the NPT regime, which is the basis for nuclear disarmament, she stressed.
Takashi Shiraishi, professor emeritus of Kumamoto Prefectural University and chairman of the meeting, expressed his willingness to discuss the effects of new technologies, such as AI and cyber technology, on arms control and nuclear deterrence.
After the meeting, Shiraishi and other members will report the outcome of the discussions to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo.
The group will hold its final meeting next spring to draft a proposal for the 2026 NPT Review Conference.
