Global Diplomacy on the Responsible Use of AI in Warfare: India, US, and China’s Stand
09-09-2024
11:31 AM
1 min read
What’s in today’s article?
- Why in News?
- Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM)
- The AI Debate in Warfare
- Stand of India, China, US and UN on AI use in weapons
Why in News?
As military use of artificial intelligence (AI) expands, efforts to regulate its application in warfare are also intensifying. Conflicts like those in Ukraine and Gaza are becoming testing grounds for AI in combat.
India, despite its active role in promoting the development and safe use of AI in the civilian sector, has been largely absent from the global discussion on restricting its military applications. As international frameworks for AI arms control begin to take shape, it is crucial for India to engage and influence these discussions rather than remain on the sidelines.
Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM)
- About the summit
- The Summit on Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM) is part of a growing global effort to establish norms for AI's military applications.
- This is the second iteration of the summit. It begins on September 9 in Seoul, co-hosted by Kenya, the Netherlands, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
- Objectives of the Korea Summit
- The second REAIM summit in South Korea aims to build on the progress from the first summit and achieve a three-fold objective:
- Understand the implications of military AI on global peace and security.
- Implement new norms for using AI systems in military affairs.
- Develop ideas for long-term global governance of AI in the military domain.
- Outcome of the first summit
- The first summit, held in February 2023 in The Hague, broadened the debate on military AI, focusing on issues like autonomous weapons or "killer robots."
- A key concern is keeping humans in the decision-making loop on the use of force.
- Discussions on lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) have been ongoing at the United Nations since 2019.
The AI Debate in Warfare
- Increased use of AI in warfare
- The REAIM process has broadened the discussion on military AI beyond just "killer robots" to recognize the increasing role of AI in various aspects of warfare.
- While AI has long been used for tasks like inventory management and logistical planning, its application in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) on the battlefield has significantly grown in recent years.
- Leading militaries are now leveraging AI to process vast amounts of data, enhance situational awareness, speed up decision-making on the use of force, improve precision in targeting, limit civilian casualties, and increase the overall tempo of warfare.
- Concerns Over AI in Warfare
- Despite these perceived benefits, many critics caution that the allure of AI in warfare could be illusory and dangerous.
- The rise of AI decision-making support systems (AI-DSS) is a critical area of debate under the REAIM process, with concerns over the risks and ethical implications of relying on AI for battlefield decisions.
- Promoting responsible use of AI in military affairs
- The REAIM process has shifted its focus from trying to reverse the AI revolution in military affairs to advocating for the responsible use of AI in warfare.
- It is part of several global efforts—national, bilateral, plurilateral, and multilateral—aimed at promoting responsible AI.
- At the end of the Hague summit, the United States issued a draft political declaration on responsible AI use, formalizing it in November 2023.
- In 2020, the US had already released national guidelines for the military use of AI and has encouraged NATO allies to adopt similar standards.
- NATO's 2021 strategy identified six principles for responsible AI use in military settings and released corresponding guidelines in July 2023, aiming to accelerate AI deployment in warfare while ensuring safety and responsibility.
- As part of this effort, the US is also conducting a bilateral dialogue with China to discuss limiting AI’s impact on nuclear deterrence.
Stand of India, China, US and UN on AI use in weapons
- US introduced resolution at the UNGA
- The United States introduced a resolution on the responsible use of AI at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), co-sponsored by 123 countries and adopted by consensus.
- While the UN's focus is broad, the REAIM process fosters more detailed discussions on military AI and aims to build a wide international coalition to establish new global norms.
- Over 50 countries have endorsed the US's political declaration on responsible AI use in the military, and the US is reaching out to Global South countries for support.
- India’s stand
- India has taken a 'watch-and-wait' approach to this debate, carefully evaluating the long-term significance of these developments without fully committing to the new AI initiatives.
- It did not endorse the “call to action” at The Hague summit and may or may not support the global AI blueprint expected at the Korea summit.
- However, India risks being left behind if it remains passive in shaping these crucial norms.
- India’s negative experience with nuclear arms control, where hesitation cost it the opportunity to shape global rules, serves as a reminder that it’s easier to influence global norms during the design phase rather than trying to change them after they are established.
- Stand of China
- China has been proactive, engaging in both strategic and regulatory discussions on military AI.
- China talks about "intelligised warfare" and released a White Paper on military AI regulation in 2021. It also supported the Hague summit’s call to action.
Q.1. What is the objective of the REAIM summit on responsible AI use in warfare?
The REAIM summit seeks to establish norms for the responsible use of AI in military operations, focusing on global peace, security, and long-term governance, with input from various stakeholders including governments and tech companies.
Q.2. How does India’s stance on military AI differ from other major countries like the US and China?
While the US and China are actively shaping military AI policies, India has adopted a cautious, 'watch-and-wait' approach, analyzing the long-term implications of AI arms control before fully committing to global initiatives.