Experts Warn AI Integration Inevitably Reshapes Global Nuclear Arms Landscape

As the world marks 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, experts warn that the nuclear threat remains grave and is entering a new, unpredictable phase marked by modernisation and the integration of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). Nine countries currently possess about 12,241 nuclear warheads, with the United States and Russia holding approximately 90% of the total arsenal, and both nations are actively upgrading their weapons systems amid the expiration of key arms control treaties. Nuclear experts at a recent University of Chicago conference emphasized the inevitability of AI being integrated into nuclear weapons, though the implications and operational details of this fusion remain uncertain and concerning. International agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) continue to play a crucial role in limiting the spread of nuclear arms, preventing many technologically capable nations from developing such weapons. However, the slowing pace of warhead dismantlement, increased deployments, and the race for advanced nuclear capabilities underscore the persistent and evolving challenges of nuclear security in 2025. Hiroshima Day serves both as a remembrance of the catastrophic humanitarian impact of nuclear warfare and a stark reminder of the ongoing peril posed by nuclear rivalries and technological advancements.