The evolution of artificial intelligence and its application in the military field is raising global concern. During the recent Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain Summit (REAIM), held in Seoul, representatives from 90 countries debated the future of "autonomous warfare." Although the agreement reached is not binding, it marked an important first step in the discussion on the use of AI in armed conflicts and the need to establish ethical boundaries.
The main conclusion of the event was clear: AI should not make key decisions regarding the use of nuclear weapons. Countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and the Netherlands supported the notion that human oversight is essential in such situations. However, China was the only country that did not sign the declaration, reflecting the geopolitical divergence on AI's role in warfare. Russia was also absent due to international sanctions related to the war in Ukraine.
AI on the battlefield: Ethical and regulatory dilemmas
One of the main challenges discussed at the summit was the difficulty of regulating a technology that is advancing faster than governments’ legislative capacity. Manoj Harjani, coordinator of the Military Transformations Program at the School of International Studies, explained that AI is evolving at a rapid pace, leaving regulatory efforts constantly playing catch-up. This gap between technological development and legislation is particularly concerning when it comes to AI in the military.
A concrete example is the use of AI-powered drones in recent conflicts, such as the war between Russia and Ukraine. According to Kateryna Bondar, an expert in advanced technologies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, countries involved in conflicts have little incentive to slow the development of military AI, as they see this technology as a crucial strategic advantage in defending their national security. This has led to a technological arms race where human oversight is increasingly minimal.
China: The AI military giant
Another key point in the discussions was China's role in the development of military AI. According to a report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, China leads in 90% of AI research categories, including advanced data analysis and machine learning algorithms. Chinese companies like Huawei, Tencent, and Alibaba are at the forefront of this research, solidifying the country as a dominant player in the race for technological supremacy in AI.
The summit made it clear that while a binding international agreement may still be far off, experts agree that regulating AI in the military domain is crucial to prevent future catastrophes. The remaining question is whether the world can reach an agreement before technological advancements make regulation irrelevant.
