On 24th of January 2024, FIIA arranged a townhall event “Governing Military AI in Competitive Times: Options for the EU”. The theme is considered important as the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has profound transformative potential for society.
Given its uncertain evolution and widespread accessibility to both benevolent and malevolent actors, it is necessary to address AI governance in terms of developing global regulation and oversight – this is the case especially with regard to military applications. The recent challenges in multilateral cooperation, particularly between major powers, make (global) regulation of military AI extremely difficult. While the EU has advanced on the regulatory front with the Artificial Intelligence Act (AIA), it excludes military use of AI, and another hurdle is posed by the spillover effects of military AI on the strategic competition between the United States and China.
The seminar, which was chaired by REMIT researcher Ville Sinkkonen, discussed how the EU should position itself in and among various governance and regulatory efforts aimed at military applications of AI. It built on an extensive AI expert survey conducted by Erasmus University Rotterdam in autumn 2023 within the REMIT project. In particular, the seminar addressed EU’s coalition-building willingness, whom to liaise with, and how the EU can situate itself in a global landscape where a multitude of initiatives are being set forth. These questions were addressed first by REMIT researcher Michal Onderco from the Erasmus University Rotterdam, who gave a presentation on the survey results indicating that the EU should utilize many different governance avenues. Professor Onderco was followed by REMIT researcher, Programme Director Katja Creutz, whose analysis of the results set forth that the EU should engage in strategic multilateralism. Comments were provided by Leading Researcher Charly Salonius-Pasternak, a renown expert in the field of security and defence from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. The audience, which consisted inter alia of experts, students, politicians and members of NGOs, raised many interesting questions for debate, including whether the separation between civilian and military applications of AI is desirable, and what the connection between the EU’s AI Act and the military side will be.
