On September 9, 2024, Realities of Algorithmic Warfare co-director Jessica Dorsey will host a high-level breakout session at the REAIM Summit in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The REAIM (Responsible Use of AI in the Military Domain) Summit is a key global event uniting academics, policymakers, military strategists, and technology leaders to explore the complexities of military AI.

The session, entitled ‘Realities of Algorithmic Warfare: Innovation, Impact, Regulation’, promises a comprehensive high-level discussion of the realities of military AI from its innovation, acquisition, deployment, and on-the-ground impact. The panelists explore how integrating AI into existing military technology has paved the way to more remoteness and autonomy in war, introducing opportunities like increased speed within the Observe-Orient-Decide-Act (OODA) loop, but also serious risks, especially to civilians on the ground where these technologies are deployed in tandem with targeting operations.

Specifically, the session will consist of three sub-panels. The first sub-panel on innovation will be moderated by Sofia Romansky and features Lt. Col. Adam Hepworth, PhD, Prof. Elke Schwarz, and RAW’s Dr. Marijn Hoijtink. The panelists will explore how (semi-)autonomous military systems are being developed and integrated into military platforms, how operators are trained, and what measures are included to mitigate biases and civilian harm. 

In the second panel, moderator Dr. Marijn Hoijtink joins Prof. Thompson Chengeta, Jessica Dorsey, and Dr. Ingvild Bode to investigate the impact of these systems once they are deployed, with specific focus on the potential risks to civilians and the effects of military AI on the character of warfare. 

In the third panel, Dorsey finally leads Prof. Nehal Bhuta, Devyani Mehta, and Dr. Jeroen van den Boogaard in a discussion on regulation and the legal and normative frameworks needed to ensure legal and ethical deployment of AI technologies in military contexts with the proper consideration of civilian harm mitigation.

The session will be interactive, featuring moderated Q&A portions and video interventions. The session will take place from 11:00 to 12:30 (KCT) in Sapphire Ballroom 2 at the Lotte Hotel, 30 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul. Although the REAIM Summit registrations are closed, you can follow the discussions online here. Keep an eye on our website for a report on the session and reflections on REAIM after the summit.