GC REAIM Symposium: Next Steps for Responsible Practice

Join us at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies for a timely symposium on the governance of military AI, part of the GC REAIM initiative.

HCSS is pleased to invite you to join us for the GC REAIM Symposium: Next Steps for Responsible Practice, on 26 June, 2025 from 10.00 – 15.30 at HCSS (Lange Voorhout 1, The Hague).

The Global Commission on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (GC REAIM) is an initiative of the Government of the Netherlands that was launched during the 2023 REAIM Summit on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain in The Hague. 

So far there have been four GC REAIM Commission Meetings and Symposiums around the world (Washington D.C., Seoul, Stellenbosch, Abu Dhabi) see conference timeline here, with the fifth and final meeting set to take place during the NATO Summit in the Hague. The secretariat is extremely proud to be hosting the final GC REAIM meeting and symposium and are busy finalising drafting the strategic guidance report.

Through two expert-led panels, we’ll explore how to translate high-level norms into real-world safeguards and manage the risks of adaptive, evolving AI systems in defence. From international frameworks to technical realities, this event offers practical insights for policymakers, technologists, and military professionals navigating the frontlines of AI governance.

Programme

9:45 – 10:00 Attendee registration and welcoming reception
10:00 – 10:45 Opening Ceremony
Master of Ceremonies: Hans Horan – HCSS Strategic Analyst
Welcoming remarks and kick off: Michel Rademaker – HCSS Co-founder and Deputy Director
Keynote address: Professor Michael Horowitz – The University of Pennsylvania

10:45 – 12:15 Panel I: From Principles to Practice: Governing the Technical Realities of Military AI
How can governance frameworks bridge the gap between high-level principles and technical implementation in military AI? What lessons from international initiatives and civilian AI governance can guide responsible and enforceable practices in defence contexts?
Moderator: Aaron Shull – Managing Director & General Counsel at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Panelists:
🔷 Branka Marijan – Senior Researcher at Project Ploughshares and a Senior Fellow at CIGI
🔷 Natasha Karner – Research Associate at the Alan Turing Institute
🔷 Jimena Viveros LL.M. – Founder & CEO of IQuilibriumAI, GC REAIM Commissioner
🔷 Jessica Dorsey – Assistant Professor of International and European Law at Utrecht University
Q&A Session: (30 minutes)

12:15 – 13:30 Lunch

13:30 – 15:00 Panel II: Adaptive Algorithms, Fixed Responsibilities: Managing the Integration of AI into the Military Domain
When and how should military AI systems be allowed to learn and adapt during operations? What testing, monitoring, and audit mechanisms are required to govern real-time adaptation?
Moderator: Sofia Romansky – HCSS Strategic Analyst
Panelists:
🔷 Ariel Conn – IEEE-SA Research Group Lead, GC REAIM Expert
🔷 Professor Roy Lindelauf – Data Science at the Netherlands Defence Academy, GC REAIM Expert
🔷 Bruce Watson – Chief Advisor at Canada’s National Security Centre of Excellence, GC REAIM Commissioner
🔷 Jonathan Kwik – Researcher at the Asser Institute
Q&A Session: (30 minutes)

15:00 – 15:30 Closing Remarks
Aaron Shull – Managing Director & General Consul at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Michel Rademaker – HCSS Co-founder and Deputy Director