Last week on Monday the 9th and Tuesday the 10th of September, the second global Summit on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM) was hosted in Seoul, South Korea. REAIM is a platform and opportunity for all stakeholders to discuss the key opportunities, challenges and risks associated with military applications of AI. The government of the Netherlands hosted the first REAIM Summit last year in the Hague, the international city of peace and justice.
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. Upon request of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) acts as the Secretariat of the Commission. GC REAIM Commissioners and Experts were present at many sessions during REAIM 2024, contributing to the successful event.
Recap of GC REAIM participation
Following the introductory plenary discussions on Day 1, there were multiple breakout sessions, which took place concurrently, offering in-depth exploration and collaborative discussion on the critical topics related to the thematic focus such as the impact of AI technological convergence, AI and global arms race, AI and war, AI and strategic stability, AI and cyber security, AI for civilian protection and more.
These are the breakout sessions our GC REAIM members were a part of on Day 1:
Bias in Military AI and Compliance with International Humanitarian Law
- GC REAIM Expert Ms. Ariel Conn (panelist)
Realities of Algorithmic Warfare: Innovation, Impact, Regulation
3-sub panels organised by the Utrecht University School of Law.
Panel 1 ‘Innovation’
We need to understand specific algorithms and their applications rather than discussing AI in abstract terms. The highlights of the discussion were the need for critical engagement, the need to ensure the accountability of the innovation infrastructure and consider ethical considerations from the design phase and understanding that experimentation may lead to more innovation without addressing when to use AI responsibly.
- GC REAIM Project Coordinator Sofia Romansky (moderator)
- GC REAIM Expert Lt. Col. Dr. Adam Hepworth (panelist)
Panel 2 ‘Impact’
During this panel the participants of the Summit discussed the deployment of AI systems in warfare and lessons learned from their use.
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Thompson Chengeta (panelist)
- GC REAIM Expert Ms. Jessica Dorsey (panelist)
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Ingvild Bode (panelist)
Panel 3 ‘Regulation’
Panel 3 focused on exploring areas of complementarity among the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), the UN General Assembly, and other regulatory initiatives regarding military AI. The participants agreed that applying legal concepts requires a technical understanding of what can be expected from military AI technologies and highlighted the importance of avoiding duplication in resolutions and suggests that states can enhance their regulatory efforts within the CCW framework.
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Nehal Bhuta (panelist)
- GC REAIM Expert Ms. Jessica Dorsey (panelist)
From Local to Global: Varied Regional Perspectives on Military AI Governance
- GC REAIM Commissioner BG Pak Shun Ng (panelist)
- GC REAIM Expert Ms. Yasmin Afina (moderator)
Broader Security Concerns Regarding Weaponized Artificial Intelligence
Organised by GC REAIM
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Yi Zeng (panelist)
- GC REAIM Commissioner Ms. Jimena Viveros, LL.M. (panelist)
Deterring or Spiraling?: Emerging Technologies and Strategic Stability
Organised by The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS)
- GC REAIM Academic Advisor Dr. Tim Sweijs (panelist)
- Strategic Analyst HCSS Davis Ellison (moderator)
Implications from the Widespread Adoption of Military AI and its Use in the Battlespace
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Kenneth Payne (panelist)
Impacts of AI Technological Convergence on International Security
- GC REAIM Expert Prof. Barry O’Sullivan (panelist)
Building Bridges in AI Development for Military and Global Security
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Giacomo Persi Paoli (moderator)
Leveraging AI for Civilian Protection
- GC REAIM Expert Prof. Dr. Rain Liivoja (panelist)
Our GC REAIM members were also present in the Second Plenary Session: Implementing Responsible Applications of AI in the Military Domain
This session focused on the responsible application of AI in military contexts and how to translate principles into actionable guidelines. Commissioners emphasized the importance of international cooperation, the role of regional organizations, the need for privacy-enhancing technologies and value-aligned design, advocating for early integration of ethical principles in engineering education, as well as the importance of ethical AI development based on international humanitarian standards and the need for validation processes.
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Yi Zeng (speaker)
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Jeroen van den Hoven (speaker)
These are the rest of the breakout sessions our GC REAIM Members took part in for the rest of Day 1:
Responsible Human-Machine Teaming Across the AI Lifecycle: An Interactive Scenario
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Nehal Bhuta (panelist)
- GC REAIM Expert Ms. Ariel Conn (panelist)
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Ingvild Bode (panelist)
Human-centered Test and Evaluation of Military AI
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Zena Assaad (panelist)
- GC REAIM Expert Lt. Col. Dr. Adam Hepworth (panelist)
- GC REAIM Expert Ms. Yasmin Afina (panelist)
The Evolution and Current State of AI Technologies within an International Legal Framework
Organised by GC REAIM
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Stuart Russell (panelist)
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Mary Ellen O’Connell (panelist)
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Thompson Chengeta (panelist)
- GC REAIM Commissioner Ms. Jimena Viveros, LL.M. (panelist)
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Toby Walsh (panelist)
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Denise Garcia (moderator)
Towards Action on Military AI Risks in the Cyber Domain
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Michael Raska (panelist)
Bridging the Gap: A Contextual Approach to Responsible Development and Use of AI in the Military Domain
- GC REAIM Expert Prof. Dr. Roy Lindelauf (panelist)
Artificial Intelligence Integration in NC3: Implications for the Global Nuclear Order
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Giacomo Persi Paoli (panelist)
Beyond the Black Box: Unpacking Explainability in Military AI
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Zena Assaad (panelist)
“Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…” Multinational Perspectives on Developing and Adopting Responsible Defense AI
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Michael Raska (panelist)
Legal Review of AWS and AI-enabled capabilities: how can legal reviews inform the safe, legal, responsible development, acquisition, deployment and use of AI in the military domain? – Elements of good practice and the current practices of Australia and France.
- GC REAIM Expert Prof. Dr. Rain Liivoja (panelist)
Responsible Military Use of AI: Bridging the Gap between Principles and Practice
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Kenneth Payne (panelist)
“Yes, but…”: Having Difficult Conversations about Responsible AI
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Giacomo Persi Paoli (panelist)
Our GC REAIM Members were also involved in the REAIM Talks: Essential AI Insights for Policymakers
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Zena Assaad (moderator)
On day 2, our GC REAIM members were just as present. Kicking us off with the Third Plenary Session: Envisioning the Future Governance of AI in the Military Domain
This session explored key considerations in AI governance, taking into account insights from existing international institutions and the interplay between various initiatives. Strategies and measures to enhance international cooperation were also be discussed.
The following questions were answered during this session:
- What do need regarding arms control measures and civil control measures of governance of AI?
- What do we need to ensure collaboration?
- What is the future of Military AI Governance?
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Denise Garcia (speaker)
Just like the previous day, the plenary session was followed by multiple concurrent break out sessions. These are the breakout sessions our GC REAIM members were a part of:
The Roundtable for AI, Security and Ethics (RAISE): Forging Global Alignment through Multistakeholder Dialogue
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Giacomo Persi Paoli (panelist)
- GC REAIM Expert Ms. Yasmin Afina (panelist)
The Current AI Governance Landscape: Looking into the Future
Organised by GC REAIM
- GC REAIM Commissioner Ms. Patricia Adusei-Poku (panelist)
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Bruce Watson (panelist)
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Kenneth Payne (panelist)
- GC REAIM Commissioner Ms. Jimena Viveros, LL.M. (panelist)
- GC REAIM Commissioner BG Pak Shun Ng (panelist)
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Denise Garcia (moderator)
How to ensure responsible use of AI in military decision-making – drawing lessons from the autonomous weapons systems (AWS) debate
- GC REAIM Commissioner Prof. Dr. Mary (Missy) Cummings (panelist)
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Vincent Boulanin (panelist)
From Principles to Practice: A Risk-Based Approach to Military AI Governance
- GC REAIM Expert Prof. Barry O’Sullivan (panelist)
Exploring Alternative Futures of Military AI Governance
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Michael Raska (panelist)
Possibility and methodology of establishing international and domestic norms regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the military field
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Mun-eon Park (panelist)
Confidence-building measures for artificial intelligence
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Giacomo Persi Paoli (panelist)
- GC REAIM Expert Dr. Zena Assaad (panelist)
There was also a High-Level Luncheon, a working lunch for heads of delegation and the REAIM plenary speakers. Discussions at each table were facilitated by GC REAIM Commissioners.
At the closing session, the “Blueprint for Action” was officially endorsed as the outcome document of the REAIM Summit 2024. This declarative document, supported by 61 states, lays out a roadmap for establishing norms of AI in the military domain: It suggests principles and framework for the future governance, emphasising that being responsible entails complying with international law, holding humans responsible and accountable, ensuring reliability and trustworthy of AI, maintaining an appropriate human involvement and improving AI explainability.
