On Tuesday, the 26th of November, IRW Project Leader Dr. Lauren Gould will participate in a Studium Generale symposium on The Rise of AI in Warfare and Security. Hosted at Tilburg University, the interdisciplinary event brings together a varied group of participants to explore the application of AI across warfare and policing and its implications for civilians and international law. Speakers include: 

• Prof. Dr. Ir. Roy Lindelauf, Full Professor at the Department of Cognitive Science and Artificial Intelligence at Tilburg University, Chair of Data Science in Military Operations at the Netherlands Defense Academy, and Head of the Data Science Center of Excellence at the Dutch Ministry of Defense
• Taís Fernanda Blauth (PhD), Lecturer in International Law & Ethics at the University of Groningen, specializing in AI ethics, governance, and military applications of autonomous systems
• Prof. Dr. Peter de Kock, Professor of Practice in Data Science in Crime and Safety at Tilburg University and the Jheronimus Academy of Data Science

During the event, speakers will reflect on the evolving character of 21st-century warfare and its transitions from remote operations to unmanned systems and autonomous warfare. Dr. Gould will dive into the reasons behind this transformation and how advanced Western militaries legitimize these methods through narratives of precision, accuracy, and potential to minimize civilian harm. Rather than departing from the perspectives of those in power, Dr. Gould will explore the lived experiences of 21st-century warfare, focusing on those who carry out these operations and those who suffer their violent effects.

To learn more about the transformative impact of AI on warfare and security, its potential for defense operations, and the critical ethical challenges it poses, register for the symposium here.

Image by Ahmed Akacha.