On Tuesday, around 60 countries, including the United States, endorsed a significant "blueprint for action" at the Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) summit in Seoul. This document aims to guide the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military applications, reflecting a shift from the previous year's less formal "call to action."
The REAIM summit, the second of its kind following a similar event in The Hague last year, marks a progression from creating a shared understanding to implementing concrete measures. The updated blueprint introduces key elements such as risk assessments, conditions for human oversight, and strategies for managing risks associated with AI in military settings.
Netherlands Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans highlighted that this year's blueprint includes provisions to prevent AI from contributing to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), especially by terrorist organizations, and emphasizes the necessity of maintaining human control over nuclear weapons deployment.
Despite the broad endorsement, China was notably absent from the list of supporters, joining about 30 other nations that participated in the summit but did not back the document. This divergence underscores the ongoing challenges in achieving global consensus on AI military governance.
"The reality is that we will not have universal agreement," Minister Brekelmans acknowledged. "We must confront the complexities of non-compliance and address these dilemmas openly."
The summit, co-hosted by the Netherlands, Singapore, Kenya, and the United Kingdom, seeks to ensure that discussions are inclusive and not dominated by any single nation or entity. The venue and timing for the next summit are still under consideration, with South Korean officials planning to raise the issue at the UN General Assembly in October.
Giacomo Persi Paoli from the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) described the blueprint as a "step forward" but cautioned that progress must be incremental to encourage broader engagement from countries hesitant to commit.
The ongoing dialogue and collaborative efforts reflect a global recognition of the need to address the ethical and strategic implications of AI in military contexts while balancing innovation with responsible governance.
