Geneva Centre for Security Policy

Our Executive Director, Ambassador Thomas Greminger, recently had a visit from Ambassador Sumith Dassanayake, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva. They discussed ways how to further strengthen cooperation between his country and our Centre.

How can the international community act on extreme risks generated by AI systems before a major crisis compels action?

This week, we were pleased to co-host the launch of “The Essential Convergence: Global Compact on Extreme AI Risks” report at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies together with the Strategic Foresight Group and the ICT4Peace Foundation.

The report identifies an emerging convergence in how states are addressing the most severe AI risks. It proposes a compact based on minimum safeguards to prevent two ultimate risks: AI systems that enable weapons of mass destruction and those that could cause an irreversible loss of human control.

A key contribution is its focus on both supply- and demand-side governance, showing that states can shape global AI safeguards not only through frontier model development, but also via markets, procurement, infrastructure, investment, energy, and deployment conditions.

The report also highlights existing AI risk mitigation efforts that support peace and security. It finds that Brazil, China, the European Union, India, South Africa, South Korea, the UAE, and the United States are beginning to converge on common safeguards and could build on successful models such as the Red Cross and arms control agreements to develop frameworks for international cooperation on extreme AI risks.

The discussion brought together leaders from the humanitarian, diplomatic, parliamentary, scientific and security communities to examine how the world can learn from successful international initiatives of the last century.

With opening remarks from the IFRC's Secretary General Jagan Chapagain, the GCSP's Executive Director Ambassador Thomas Greminger and the SFG's President Sundeep Waslekar and contributions from experts across regions and sectors, the launch underscored a central message: global AI governance is not only a technological challenge, but a peace and security imperative.

A huge thank you to everyone involved: Ilmas Futehally, Melissa Parke, Chinmay Pandya, Anda Filip, Lavina Ramkissoon, Derrick Swartz, Martin Müller, Kwan Yee Ng, Anne-Marie Buzatu and Christina Schori Liang.

Read Ambassador Greminger's speech and the report here: https://bit.ly/4aKhE5d