A global summit on the role of AI in the military sphere on Tuesday stated in a non-binding statement that humans and not artificial intelligence should make the crucial decisions about the use of nuclear weapons. The agreement was adopted by nearly 100 countries, including the US and Ukraine, but not signed by China.
Important findings
- People should retain control over the use of nuclear weapons.
- The agreement is not legally binding and has not been signed by China.
- AI applications in the military sector must be ethical and human-centred.
- Russia was not invited to the summit because of its invasion of Ukraine.
Seoul Summit: An Overview
The “Responsible AI in the Military Domain” (REAIM) summit in Seoul, attended by nearly 100 countries, adopted the “Blueprint for Action” after 2 days of talks. The agreement emphasises the need to maintain human control and involvement in all actions related to the use of nuclear weapons.
Ethical and legal framework
The statement stresses that AI capabilities must be applied in the military sphere in accordance with applicable national and international law. It calls for AI applications to be ethical and human-centred.
China's stance and international reactions
China did not sign the statement, and the Chinese embassy in Seoul did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Russia was not invited to the summit because of its invasion of Ukraine.
Future challenges and discussions
The statement acknowledges that states still have a long way to go to keep up with the development of AI in the military sphere. It stresses that further discussions are needed to develop clear policies and procedures.
Background and hosts
The Seoul Summit was co-hosted by the UK, the Netherlands, Singapore and Kenya, following the first event in The Hague last February. The summit calls itself “the most comprehensive and inclusive platform for AI in the military sphere”.
Sources
- Humans not AI should control nuclear weapons: Seoul summit, IT Security News, ET CISO, ET CISO.
