South Korea held an important international summit on Monday, aiming to create guidelines for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military. More than 90 countries, including major powers like the United States and China, attended the two-day event in Seoul. The goal of the summit is to establish a framework for how AI should be used in military operations, although any agreement reached won’t be legally binding.
This was the second summit of its kind, following the first one held in The Hague last year. At that time, nations, including the U.S. and China, supported a basic “call to action” but did not commit to legal obligations.
During the opening speech, South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun mentioned the impact of AI in military conflicts, referring specifically to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. He highlighted how Ukraine has been using AI-powered drones to improve their effectiveness in battle. While AI has greatly boosted military capabilities, Kim warned that it could also be harmful if misused, comparing it to a double-edged sword.
The summit also covered important issues like ensuring that AI systems comply with international laws. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul emphasized the need for human oversight when it comes to life-and-death decisions made by AI systems, particularly autonomous weapons.
Although the summit aims to agree on basic principles for responsible military AI use, it’s still unclear how many countries will sign the final document. Even if they do, it’s unlikely that these agreements will include strict legal commitments.
This summit is part of a larger global effort to discuss AI in military settings. The United Nations has also been working on potential rules for autonomous weapons systems. Additionally, last year the U.S. introduced its own declaration on responsible military AI use, which 55 countries have already endorsed.
Co-hosted by the Netherlands, Singapore, Kenya, and the United Kingdom, the summit gathered around 2,000 people from various sectors, including government, academia, and industry. They discussed topics such as how to protect civilians and whether AI should be involved in managing nuclear weapons.
As AI technology advances, these discussions will play a crucial role in shaping its future use in military operations worldwide.
