The integration of AI into nuclear systems is underway. The guardrails, safety, and security frameworks needed to understand and manage the consequences are not. A new generation of AI-informed nuclear fail-safe reviews is urgently needed in all countries with nuclear weapons.
New YouGov polling commissioned by NTI and ReThink Media finds that nearly 80 percent of registered voters, across party lines, say it is in the interest of U.S. national security to work with China to mitigate catastrophic threats associated with nuclear risks, AI development, and bioterrorism.
As NTI celebrates 25 years of impact, we remain committed to reducing the risks of accidental release and deliberate misuse of life science innovations, strengthening global biosecurity, and guiding efforts to govern emerging technologies.
The 2026 NTI Nuclear Security Index proposes an agenda for a new era of leadership at a moment when the risk environment leaves no room for complacency.
“The data point to a historic lapse in nuclear security leadership in these countries at a moment when nuclear dangers are rising,” NTI President and CEO Christine E. Wormuth said.
The policy challenge ahead is ensuring that safeguards, governance frameworks, and security practices continue to responsibly scale alongside the technology. If they do, society can capture AI's enormous benefits while keeping emerging risks firmly under control.
Beijing and Washington must be on the same page to avoid nuclear material from falling into the wrong hands. Continued Track II engagement on nuclear security is essential for preserving cooperation within a critical area of shared interest, even when diplomacy between political officials is at an impasse.
This paper outlines six practical options that non-nuclear weapon states could pursue to reduce nuclear risks amid heightened geopolitical tensions. The options were developed based on interviews with nuclear policy experts from around the world. They reflect priority areas where government investment could have the most near- to medium-term impact, as well as the tools and channels through which these efforts could be advanced.
As scientific and technological advances accelerate, the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) faces a defining test. The BWC’s future depends on whether the world can match the pace of biological innovation with equally ambitious efforts to prevent catastrophe.
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