The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has made international communication more convenient and frequent. However, it also imposes new challenges on the current international legal system. First, the development of AI technology will challenge some basic principles of international law, such as the principle of sovereignty and the principle of state responsibility. The upcoming AI era might cause serious problems of algorithm monopoly and data monopoly, and even form the AI hegemony, which in turn will seriously threaten a nation’s sovereignty. As a result, it is necessary to put forward the concept of AI sovereignty to prevent the infringement of AI technological hegemony on national sovereignty. In terms of state responsibility, when acts of AI violate a state’s international obligations, these acts cannot be directly attributed to the state but to an individual or entity representing the state as the first step to establish state responsibility. This allows the state to use AI’s completely autonomous behavior to exempt state responsibility. Second, the development of AI technology also challenges many specific fields of international law, including the resident system of international law, international humanitarian law, international criminal law, international intellectual property law, international human rights law, international law of the sea, and international maritime law, etc. AI will continue to update its capacity of intelligence. AI acquiring legal personality also raises the questions as to whether the resident system applies to AI and how to apply it. These concerns require the active response of international law. At the same time, when AI becomes the main creator and defender of human interests, it may also need to be granted some human rights. However, the subjects of international human rights law are still limited to humans. At present, AI weapon systems are gradually getting out of human control. Its ability of decision-making, however, is difficult to meet the requirements of the principles of proportionality and attack prevention. When AI acts on behalf of individuals to commit acts of genocide and endanger humanity, new issues will arise, such as the identification of responsible subjects and methods of attribution. In addition, the application of AI technology has led to the invention of unmanned ships. Considering their special nature and potential danger, coastal states should be entitled to have some special jurisdiction over unmanned ships. In terms of marine compensation, accidents caused by completely autonomous ships will also trigger new issues on responsibility. It is worth noting that some objects generated by AI have important value and innovativeness, and should be protected by intellectual property law. However, there is no provision for this protection in international intellectual property law. In this respect, it is particularly important to properly manage the relationship between the development of AI technology and international law. States should strengthen cooperation with the goal of safe application of AI to guide the healthy development of AI technology. Although AI technology is at its early stage of development in many countries, the issue of AI security cannot be ignored. Its development thus needs to be regulated effectively. Because of this necessity, we may take the lead in formulating an international soft law to solve technical problems and certain ethical problems. Moreover, in order to deal effectively with new social problems and deep-level ethical problems, it is also necessary to develop a global risk prevention and control mechanism in the field which requires a stronger obligation through modifying multilateral international rules and developing new multilateral treaties. Meanwhile, in order to respond to the opportunities and challenges imposed by artificial intelligence on a global scale, it is advisable to set up AI-specific international institutions, which aims to focus on and formulate the rules of AI industry, to supervise the development and use of AI, and to promote the integration between the development of artificial intelligence and the existing international legal system.