AI and Armed Conflict: Legal Experts Weigh In

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Wobma, Maria Tolppa, and Professor Kubo Mačák introduced a symposium examining how international law regulates artificial intelligence in armed conflict, from Ukraine to Gaza. The discussions stem from a forthcoming volume, International Law and Artificial Intelligence in Armed Conflict: The AI.

Cyber Interplay, produced by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. Experts presented perspectives on governing AI throughout its lifecycle, including legal reviews of military AI capabilities and the implications of AI-enabled deception.

The symposium contributors argue that existing international humanitarian law can still apply to AI in warfare, but requires careful interpretation and implementation given the technology's rapid evolution. They focused on challenges like ensuring respect for the law during AI system design and addressing the dual-use nature of AI technologies that blur lines between military and civilian applications.

The experts acknowledge many questions remain open as AI becomes more integrated into military operations, and they hope their work stimulates further discussion on effective governance. The symposium aims to clarify legal questions surrounding AI in armed conflict, rather than provide definitive answers.