US joins Austria, Bahrain, Canada, & Portugal to co-lead global push for safer military AI

US joins Austria, Bahrain, Canada, & Portugal to co-lead global push for safer military AI
US joins Austria, Bahrain, Canada, & Portugal to co-lead global push for safer military AI

Two US officials exclusively tell Breaking Defense the details of new international “working groups” that are the next step in Washington’s campaign for ethical and safety standards for military AI and automation – without prohibiting their use entirely.

Avoiding accidental armageddon: Report urges new safety rules for unmanned systems

Avoiding accidental armageddon: Report urges new safety rules for unmanned systems
Avoiding accidental armageddon: Report urges new safety rules for unmanned systems

Even if China doesn’t agree to or abide by new “confidence-building measures,” CNAS scholar Tom Shugart says, the US and its allies should adopt them unilaterally to reduce the risk of accidents or worse in the West Pacific.

40-plus countries convening next week to thrash out ‘responsible AI’ for military use

40-plus countries convening next week to thrash out ‘responsible AI’ for military use
40-plus countries convening next week to thrash out ‘responsible AI’ for military use

The US government hopes this will be the first of many annual meetings of the countries that signed on to the US “Political Declaration” on military AI last year, sharing model policies and best practices on everything from combat robots to back-office algorithms.

DoD hoping to build international cooperation on responsible AI, autonomy

DoD hoping to build international cooperation on responsible AI, autonomy
DoD hoping to build international cooperation on responsible AI, autonomy

“I think that there’s a recognition that the sorts of norms we’re trying to promote are things that all countries should be able to get behind,” Pentagon emerging capabilities official Michael Horowitz said.

Ethical Terminators, or how DoD learned to stop worrying and love AI: 2023 Year in Review

Ethical Terminators, or how DoD learned to stop worrying and love AI: 2023 Year in Review
Ethical Terminators, or how DoD learned to stop worrying and love AI: 2023 Year in Review

Over the last 11 months, the US has made major progress in defining “Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence” and even getting other nations to sign on the idea — without ever actually precluding the kind of automated “killer robots” activists want to ban.

AI ethics: Pentagon about to roll out public web app to guide ‘responsible’ development

AI ethics: Pentagon about to roll out public web app to guide ‘responsible’ development
AI ethics: Pentagon about to roll out public web app to guide ‘responsible’ development

While designed for military program managers, the app will be also available to the public so that industry, allies and ordinary citizens can understand how the Pentagon is implementing “responsible AI” – and how China is not.

DoD releases new AI adoption strategy building on industry advancements

DoD releases new AI adoption strategy building on industry advancements
DoD releases new AI adoption strategy building on industry advancements

“Meanwhile, as commercial tech companies and others continue to push forward the frontiers of AI, we’re making sure we stay at the cutting edge with foresight, responsibility and a deep understanding of the broader implications for our nation,” Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said.

DARPA, White House launch $20M AI, cybersecurity challenge

DARPA, White House launch $20M AI, cybersecurity challenge
DARPA, White House launch $20M AI, cybersecurity challenge

The Biden administration also unveiled a new executive order targeting US investment in Chinese AI, quantum and microelectronic tech.

White House wants to hold big tech accountable in new artificial intelligence ‘blueprint’

White House wants to hold big tech accountable in new artificial intelligence ‘blueprint’
White House wants to hold big tech accountable in new artificial intelligence ‘blueprint’

The Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights can inform the implementation of DoD’s AI Ethical Principles and Responsible AI Implementation Pathway “where feasible,” according to the White House.

CDAO governing council aims for transparency, voice for key stakeholders

CDAO governing council aims for transparency, voice for key stakeholders
CDAO governing council aims for transparency, voice for key stakeholders

“So any business that we want to do on behalf of the department, that’s our place to duke it out, to collaborate, to really get the feedback from all the different stakeholders we need in the organization before we bring that to the deputy,” Margaret Palmieri, deputy CDAO, said Tuesday.

Pentagon’s long-awaited ‘Responsible AI’ pathway highlights flexibility, ‘trust’

Pentagon’s long-awaited ‘Responsible AI’ pathway highlights flexibility, ‘trust’
Pentagon’s long-awaited ‘Responsible AI’ pathway highlights flexibility, ‘trust’

One key element is ensuring a transformation from “viewing AI as an enigmatic and incomprehensible technology to understanding the capabilities and limitations of this widely adopted and accepted technology.”

SecDef Austin Commits US To ‘Responsible AI’

SecDef Austin Commits US To ‘Responsible AI’
SecDef Austin Commits US To ‘Responsible AI’

“AI is going to change many things about military operations, but nothing is going to change America’s commitment to the laws of war and the principles of our democracy,” the Defense Secretary said.

Project Convergence: AIs vs. Uncertainty

Project Convergence: AIs vs. Uncertainty
Project Convergence: AIs vs. Uncertainty

“We demonstrated… that having that person in the loop is not a huge time sink,” AITF director Doug Matty told me. “By presenting the right information at the appropriate level of confidence, it actually accelerated the mission.”

Artificial Intelligence, Lawyers And Laws Of War

Artificial Intelligence, Lawyers And Laws Of War
Artificial Intelligence, Lawyers And Laws Of War

In Afghanistan and Iraq, a military lawyer was always at the table for strike decisions, said the chief of Army Futures Command. In future wars, there may not be time to go around the table.