90 Nations Discuss Responsible Military AI Use at Seoul Summit, No Legal Agreement Expected

South Korea has convened an international summit aimed at establishing guidelines for the ethical use of artificial intelligence in military operations.

The two-day event in Seoul, which includes government delegates from over 90 countries, including major powers like the United States and China, marks a significant step towards regulating AI in warfare.

While the summit seeks to create a framework for responsible AI deployment, discussions are expected to focus on ethical concerns, compliance with international laws, and preventing the misuse of autonomous weaponry.

However, despite the global participation, any agreement reached is unlikely to carry binding legal authority.

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“In the recent Russia-Ukraine war, an AI-applied Ukrainian drone served as David’s slingshot,” Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun of South Korea stated in the opening remarks.

He was alluding to Ukraine’s attempts to acquire a technological advantage over Russia by introducing AI-enabled drones in the hopes that they would assist in defeating signal jamming and allow unmanned aerial vehicles to operate in greater formations.

“The military’s operational capabilities are significantly enhanced as AI is used in the field. But because misuse can have negative effects, it’s like having two sides to a blade,” Kim remarked.

Discussions will address topics like a legal assessment to guarantee adherence to international law and safeguards to stop autonomous weapons from making life-or-death decisions without proper human oversight, according to South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.

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According to a senior South Korean official, the Seoul summit aimed to agree on a blueprint for action that would establish a minimum level of safeguards for AI in the military and suggest principles on responsible use by reflecting principles laid out by NATO, the U.S., or many other countries.

The paper, which aims to be a more thorough attempt to put restrictions on AI usage in the military but still probably lacks legal obligations, is expected to be endorsed by a limited number of the summit’s participating states on Tuesday.

There are more worldwide gatherings for talks about AI applications in the military besides the summit.

To comply with international humanitarian law, U.N. nations that are parties to the 1983 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons are debating possible limitations on lethal autonomous weaponry systems.

A proclamation on the responsible use of AI in the military was also released by the US government last year, and it addresses the employment of AI in the military for purposes other than just weaponry. 55 nations had ratified the statement as of August.

Co-hosted by the Netherlands, Singapore, Kenya, and the United Kingdom, the Seoul summit seeks to guarantee continued multi-stakeholder dialogue in an area where governments make most of the decisions but the private sector drives most technological advancements.

Approximately 2,000 individuals from around the world have registered for the summit, including officials from academia, international organizations, and the commercial sector. They will be attending talks on subjects like AI’s application in nuclear weapon management and civilian protection.

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