Ukraine has shown that artificial intelligence (AI) is already
delivering military advantage in conflict and the Ministry of
Defence (MOD) should embrace the change AI is bringing to
defence, a report by the Defence Committee has found.
Chair of the Sub-Committee on Developing AI capacity and
expertise in UK Defence, MP, said:
“Artificial intelligence in defence is here to stay – the UK must
move fast to avoid falling behind.
“The use of AI in Ukraine shows that it offers serious military
advantage on the battlefield, and as AI becomes more widespread
and sophisticated, it will change the way defence works, from the
back office to the frontline.
“Harnessing AI for defence requires not just updated technology
but an updated approach, and in today's report, we call on the
Ministry of Defence to transform itself into an ‘AI-native'
organisation, fully integrating AI into its work and mindset.
“Our report finds that the UK is ripe with opportunity and has
the potential to become world-leading in Defence AI. But if we
are to realise this potential, the Ministry of Defence must take
a proactive approach and nurture the UK's industry. While the
UK's Defence AI sector may not compete with the USA and China
when it comes to scale, we can offer valuable specialism and
sophistication.
“Our inquiry discovered a gap between the Ministry of Defence's
rhetoric and reality on AI. While the department acknowledges the
importance of AI, these words have not been borne out by action.
With the global threat picture ever-worsening, and the pace of
technological change moving at a rapid speed, the Ministry of
Defence has no time to lose.
“The Government's Strategic Defence Review is an opportunity to
modernise defence. In order to do this, it must reflect the new
reality of an AI-enabled world.”
MOD's mismatched “rhetoric and reality” on AI
capabilities
The report highlights a gap between the MOD's rhetoric on AI and
the reality: while MOD policy documents talk about AI as a
transformative development, the department does not behave as
though this is the case. Too often AI is still treated as a
novelty rather than as something that will soon be a core part of
defence's toolkit, and while the Defence AI Strategy correctly
identifies the potential for AI to transform defence it offers
few specifics on how this will be achieved.
The Committee calls for the MOD's “say-do” gap to be closed, and
for the MOD to become an “AI native” organisation, with AI a core
part of the department's toolkit. The ongoing Strategic Defence
Review offers an opportunity for the MOD to accelerate this
change.
MOD must develop UK Defence AI Industry to be
“first-class”
The report finds that the UK has natural strengths that could
allow it to develop first-class specialisms in Defence AI, but
the sector is at present under-developed and needs cultivating.
The Committee calls on the MOD to identify the gaps in the UK's
Defence AI sector, including in digital infrastructure, data
management and the AI skills base. The report finds that the MOD
has not provided a clear enough signal to industry on the type of
AI the department is interested in acquiring or clear signposts
for business opportunities.
The MOD is likely to need to work with smaller and
non-traditional defence suppliers. The Committee urges the MOD to
overcome the barriers that currently prevent such companies from
working with Defence, such as complex procurement processes and
difficulties obtaining security clearance for staff.
The report identifies a culture clash, with the tech industry
adopting a “fail fast” mindset and model of rapid, iterative
development. The Committee calls on the MOD to become more
comfortable with rapid change, more open to experimentation and
risk, and more able to deploy and iterate cheaper, disposable,
software-led solutions on faster timelines.
AI interoperability with allies
The UK's Defence AI systems will be most effective when
interoperable with NATO and AUKUS allies. The report calls for
dialogue over shared approaches to data collection and labelling
and the ethical use of autonomous technologies, and joint working
on skills and capacity building.
