The danger of biological weapons lies in their ability to rapidly, but quietly and unnoticed, spread among the population. Will AI help in the fight against biological weapons? Dina Neskorozhana Peace and Security
Many viruses and bacteria can be turned into weapons of mass destruction. And although almost all countries have acceded to the Biological Weapons Convention, allegations of their use continue to surface, making the issue of verification, especially in light of the capabilities of new technologies, of particular importance.
James Revill, head of the weapons of mass destruction and space security programs at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, reported to the UN News Service about the potential of AI in this area (UNIDIR).
Deadly, silent, invisible
When we say “biological weapons,” many people conjure up stories of ancient blankets infested with lice or smallpox being dropped into enemy camps, or modern narratives of infected insects and secret laboratories. Another memorable scene: On February 5, 2003, US Secretary of State Colin Powell displayed a vial of alleged anthrax at a meeting of the UN Security Council. officially. Yet behind the legends lies a sinister reality, as James Revill, director of the weapons of mass destruction and space security programs at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), explains.
“Biological weapons are traditionally understood as agents that cause harm through infection. These may include viruses such as smallpox and bacteria such as anthrax, along with a variety of other biological agents. Biological weapons can affect people, animals and plants, causing consequences ranging from mass destruction to localized attacks, economic sabotage or murder,” Revill noted. That is why, the expert added, such weapons are considered “unacceptable” and the international community agreed with the idea of their complete ban.
Biological weapons typically consist of two components – a substance/agent and a delivery vehicle, like the lice and blankets from the examples above. Substances such as aflatoxin, anthrax, botulinum toxin, foot and mouth disease, melioidosis, plague, Q fever, ricin, smallpox and tularemia were developed over different periods. Delivery vehicles range from missiles and bombs to aircraft sprayers and simple tools for covert attacks.
When a disease outbreak begins, it is often impossible to determine whether it occurred naturally, by accident, or as a result of the deliberate use of biological weapons. The true nature of biological weapons lies in their indiscriminate nature: they do not discriminate between friend and foe, turning with equal brutality on those who use them and those against whom they are directed.
Biological Ban Convention weapons
Fearing the catastrophic consequences of biological warfare, the world community developed the Biological Weapons Convention (BTWC). This Treaty prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons.
The Convention was opened for signature on April 10, 1972 and entered into force on March 26, 1975. Today it has acquired an almost universal character. The Convention develops the provisions of the Geneva Protocol of 1925, which prohibited only the use of biological weapons, extending this prohibition also to their development and storage.
President’s Appeal USA
Speaking from the podium of the UN General Assembly in September 2025, US President Donald Trump recalled the dangers posed by biological weapons and announced that his country would lead international efforts to develop an artificial intelligence-based verification system in the field biosafety. He also called on the UN to play a constructive role in advancing these efforts.
“If we ever use biological weapons, the world could literally cease to exist,” he said. “Then there will be no United Nations to speak of.”
The US president linked his warning to the lessons of the pandemic, which he blamed on “irresponsible experimentation abroad,” and announced plans for a new international initiative to strengthen the Convention, centered on a robust artificial intelligence-based verification system. According to Trump, this will be one of the first global examples of how AI can strengthen collective security, rather than undermine it. Russia promptly supported this US initiative.
The role of the UN in strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention
The UN stated that it does not intend to shy away from challenges in the field of disarmament.
“Neither the United Nations itself nor the Office for Disarmament Affairs will escape the challenges of today,” Deputy Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu emphasized at a meeting of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly. “On the contrary, current institutional challenges and trends in international security should inspire us to reaffirm the value of disarmament.” strengthening the Convention and the biocontrol system in general.
“A small four-person unit, the Convention Implementation Support Secretariat, coordinates discussions, assists the working group on strengthening the Convention, supports the implementation of commitments and monitors confidence-building measures. In addition, the mechanism of the UN Secretary-General for investigating cases of possible use of biological weapons remains accessible and effective, and recently work has been underway to modernize its capabilities,” the expert explained.
Under Article 6 of the Convention, any state party may file a complaint with the UN Security Council about a violation of its provisions. In this situation, the Security Council instructs the UN Secretary-General to review statements regarding the use or threat of use of bacteriological weapons to determine their validity.
Artificial intelligence and control of biological weapons
Today, the Convention remains an interstate treaty, and even half a century later, states continue to disagree on how best to strengthen it. AI can help collect, unify and analyze data on biological activities across countries, creating a more accurate picture of compliance. However, according to Revill, technology alone is not enough: progress still requires institutions, political will and financial resources.
New technologies can also be used by the other side. “Artificial intelligence, for example, could be used to create new biological agents or allow actors with less developed resources to produce primitive forms of biological weapons. In addition, AI is increasingly being used to spread disinformation, whether from natural outbreaks or deliberate attacks,” Revill said.
At the same time, the expert added that AI alone is not enough to create weapons – this requires a combination of technologies, equipment and expertise. Advances in genome editing, developments in research projects and new delivery vehicles – all of this, although created for peaceful purposes, can also be used with destructive intentions, which requires constant assessment of emerging dangers.
Violations Convention
Reville noted that “during the last century, several states, including major powers, have had offensive biological weapons programs.” There are also a few credible cases of bioterrorism by non-state actors, but information about these programs remains fragmentary. Verifying the allegations that countries make against each other requires an effective verification system, supported by modern AI capabilities. The United States and other states are perceived as a long-awaited opportunity to strengthen its “verification mechanism,” the UN News Service interlocutor emphasizes. humanity’s old fears of invisible threats.