Written by Sebastian Clapp.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming modern warfare. Russia’s war on Ukraine has demonstrated AI’s critical role in intelligence gathering, autonomous systems, and cyber operations. A global AI arms race is therefore gathering speed, with China and the United States vying for leadership and Russia investing heavily in AI capabilities. The EU Strategic Compass for security and defence underscores the growing importance of defence innovation, recognising its strategic value and emphasising the need to strengthen the EU’s emerging military technologies, including AI.
The EU and its Member States have increasingly acknowledged AI’s significance for security and defence, leading to expanded investment in AI-driven military technologies over the past decade. AI-powered defence innovation is progressing, with multiple European Defence Fund and Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects dedicated to integrating AI into future military capabilities. Efforts are also underway to create synergies between the civilian, defence, and AI industries. In addition, the EU is cooperating with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
AI in warfare raises key ethical concerns, including accountability, compliance with international humanitarian law, and the risk of conflict escalation due to reduced human oversight. Global debate over military AI regulation has intensified amid the absence of a unified international framework, with contrasting approaches emerging – such as the US promoting flexible, innovation-friendly standards, and the EU adopting a human-centric, risk-based model through its AI Act, which excludes military use but may – according to some experts – shape future debate on military AI regulation. While organisations like the United Nations are pushing for responsible use and oversight, geopolitical tensions and differing strategic interests continue to hinder consensus on global rules.
The European Parliament recognises the strategic importance of AI in defence, but calls for regulation and a prohibition on lethal autonomous weapons (LAWS). The Parliament’s Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age (AIDA) stresses the need for ethical guidelines in defence AI, and has warned of the EU’s potential lag in AI and called for international regulation of LAWS, robust cybersecurity measures, and global cooperation in military AI regulation.
Read the complete briefing on ‘Defence and artificial intelligence‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
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