U.S. and Russian diplomats pushed to strip multiple critical safety provisions aimed at ensuring the safe use of AI weapons during the final stages of United Nations negotiations on lethal autonomous weapons earlier this month, the Washington Post reported on Saturday.
The negotiations, held in Geneva, Switzerland, from August 31 to September 4, aimed to advance a framework regulating the use of lethal autonomous weapons.
Citing three people familiar with the matter and documents reviewed by the newspaper, the Washington Post report noted that on the final day of the talks, diplomats from the United States and Russia heavily edited the text to remove provisions intended to guarantee the safe use of AI weapons.
The deleted provisions included requirements for the systems to operate in a "predictable" and "reliable" manner, mandates for ethical considerations during their deployment, and a strict rule requiring humans to review AI-identified military targets before launching strikes. The report said the U.S. and Russia each deployed about 10 lawyers to participate in the revisions, nearly twice the number of diplomats from other delegations. The speed of the changes left smaller delegations struggling to keep up. While the current UN negotiations are not legally binding, an agreement among member states could pave the way for a future binding treaty. Participating countries are scheduled to meet again in Geneva in November to discuss whether to further advance the development of such a treaty. The report also cited experts to warn that if rules on lethal AI weapons are too weak, it could mean machines are able to make life-and-death decisions without human control. The practical impact could include more civilian casualties, less accountability, and a faster slide toward riskier automated warfare, it cautioned.
US, Russia weaken AI weapons safety clauses in UN negotiations: report
Giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang arrived in Atlanta on Sunday morning, drawing visitors who made special trips to Zoo Atlanta to welcome them -- even though the pair will not be able to meet the public right away.
The pair departed from China's Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in southwest China's Sichuan Province on a chartered flight at 02:55 on Sunday.
As planned, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang will stay in the United States for 10 years as part of a cooperative research program for giant panda conservation.
Upon their arrival, zoo visitors were filled with excitement. Many Atlanta residents still remember the panda family that previously stayed at the zoo before returning in 2024.
"I saw them. I got to see them one time when they were here last time and we're excited. It's my wife's favorite animal, so she'll be very excited to have an opportunity to see him because she wasn't here last time, she didn't get to see him," said a visitor.
"I'm really excited. We managed to catch the last ones before they left, so I'm glad they're coming back, especially with our baby here, Rena. I'm excited to show her the pandas when they are available to see," said another visitor.
Ping Ping, the male panda born on March 17, 2020, is easily recognizable due to his large, dark eye rims. His name, together with that of his brother An'an, comes from the wish for them to be safe and sound throughout their lives. He has a stocky build, moves nimbly, and has demonstrated proficiency in climbing trees, often resting among the branches.
Fu Shuang, the female panda born on October 18, 2020, is characterized by a small tuft of fluffy fur on her head and a full, protruding forehead. Her name comes from her mother, Fu Lu, and carries the meaning of both fortune and prosperity. With a round appearance, she is quick to react and very capable of foraging for food.
According to the Chinese side, both Chinese and U.S. veterinarians and keepers conducted a joint examination and confirmed that the two pandas are in good health. They have begun a routine quarantine period of about one month before making their debut to the public.
Visitors flock to Zoo Atlanta to welcome giant pandas Ping Ping, Fu Shuang
