- New Defence AI Strategy launched at London Tech Week AI
Summit to drive forwards innovation
- New approach to the Ambitious, Sustainable and Responsible
use of AI.
- New jobs, research, development, and experimentation to
modernise the UK Armed Forces
Plans for the future of cutting-edge UK Artificial Intelligence
(AI) defence technology have been unveiled in a new strategy published
today at London Tech Week AI Summit. The strategy and
accompanying policy on the ‘Ambitious, Safe and
Responsible’ use of AI underpin a new Defence AI Centre
(DAIC), which will offer a visionary hub to champion, enable and
innovate these technologies across the UK Armed Forces with pace
and ambition.
In the face of ever-evolving threats to global security, the
Defence AI
Strategyoutlines how the UK will prioritise research,
development, and experimentation to revolutionise our Armed
Forces capabilities through new concepts and cutting-edge
technology to deliver the latest equipment to the battlefield
through effective, efficient, trusted pathways. Concepts include
AI-enabled autonomous combat vehicles and resupply systems to
deliver supplies without putting people in danger, or soldiers on
the front-line guided by smart systems drawing on hours of
detailed footage captured by a series of small drones.
We also publish today our policy on the ‘Ambitious, Safe and
Responsible’ use of AI, developed through partnership with
the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), including new
ethical principles for the use of AI in Defence. These will make
sure that Defence makes the best and responsible use of the
technology, both to retain the confidence of the public and our
partners and to hold others to account for irresponsible
behaviours.
Defence Procurement Minister, , said:
Future conflicts may be won or lost on the speed and efficacy of
AI technology, and our approach to AI must be rapid, ambitious
and comprehensive.
Our new Defence AI Centre (DAIC) and AI strategy will create a
focused hub to champion these technologies, working ethically
hand in hand with human judgements to maintain the UK’s position
at the forefront of global security and responsible innovation.
Further to this, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
have awarded a £7 million contract to Northern Ireland based
company Kainos, partnering with AI specialist Faculty Science Ltd
and defence experts Actica, to deliver world-class artificial
intelligence experimentation. The contract will support up to 20
highly skilled data science jobs across the UK as well as
developing new specialist roles to reinforce safe, ethical, and
operational AI.
Dr Paul Kealey, Head of Dstl’s Cyber and Information
Systems Division said:
Dstl is delivering the most ambitious programme in its 20-year
history – and we can only deliver on this by working with diverse
talent from across industry and academia.
AI has the potential to provide significant benefits across
Defence from the back-office to the Front Line and I’m delighted
we are working with Kainos – a brand new supplier who will bring
specialist expertise and experience as a leader in the civil
world into defence.
Brendan Mooney, Kainos CEO, said:
We are delighted to have been selected to be AI Agile Delivery
Partner for Dstl. We share the Ministry of Defence’s belief that
when utilised effectively and responsibly, data and AI offers
unparalleled opportunities for the future of defence.
Alongside our partners, Faculty and Actica, we are excited by the
opportunity to extend this relationship with this long-term
engagement with Dstl.
Defence’s commitment to strengthen security and modernise our
armed forces was outlined in the Integrated Review, and the use
of AI is a key to achieving that objective. The AI Strategy
highlights how the MOD will be transformed into an ‘AI ready’
organisation and in doing so, will support the government’s wider
ambitions for the UK to become a Science and Technology
Superpower by 2030.
The announcements took place during London Tech Week, and the
minister made clear at the AI Summit that AI-enabled military
capabilities will always be in line with UK ethical values,
standards, and legal obligations, and that there remain instances
where human judgement will always be necessary.
Building on the Integrated Review and
Defence Command Paper
- which was backed by an additional £24 billion for Defence over
4 years - the Defence AI Strategy will form a key element of the
National AI Strategy and reinforces Defence’s place at the heart
of the Government’s drive for strategic advantage through science
and technology.
