Ethics in Global Competition Over Military AI

As outlined in the UK's Defence AI Strategy, AI is no single technology, but rather a family of rapidly evolving general-purpose technologies focused on developing machines capable of performing tasks normally requiring biological intelligence, especially machines that learn from data. In this sense, AI can be understood as analogous to the combustion engine, semiconductor, or internet before it -- a highly-disruptive technology that will eventually touch on all areas of human activity, including warfare. This time, the revolution is a cognitive one, with the potential for improved speed and quality of decision-making, optimisation of complex systems, and the automation of dull, dirty, or dangerous tasks, including within the military. But if AI is likely to become not just a growing factor, but an actor in warfighting, it is imperative we understand the ethical dilemmas this could pose for defence decision-makers.