Artificial Intelligence, Nuclear Warfare and Towards Laws: A Study on Limitations of Existing International Laws and Treaties

The rapid convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and nuclear warfare technologies has outpaced the existing frameworks of international law, exposing critical legal, ethical, and strategic vulnerabilities in global security governance. This study examines the limitations of current international laws and treaties—such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Geneva Conventions, and emerging norms under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW)—in addressing the challenges posed by AI-enhanced nuclear command, control, and decision-making systems. Through interdisciplinary analysis combining international legal theory, security studies, and AI ethics, the research highlights how autonomous systems, algorithmic opacity, and dual-use technological ambiguity undermine core principles of accountability, state responsibility, and deterrence stability. The paper also explores scenarios where AI-driven escalation risks could bypass human oversight, creating pathways to inadvertent conflict or unlawful use of force. It argues for the urgent need to recalibrate global legal architectures, establish binding normative frameworks, and incorporate AI-specific clauses within arms control agreements. By identifying legal lacunae and proposing policy directions, this study contributes to a timely and critical discourse on reimagining the future of law in the age of intelligent warfare.