The Department of Defense Joint AI Center hosted the first-ever AI Partnership for Defense September 15-16 with military and defense forces from 13 nations. The PfD is envisioned to serve as a recurring forum for like-minded defense partners to discuss their respective policies, approaches, and challenges in adopting AI-enabled capabilities. During the inaugural PfD, representatives shared lessons learned and best practices in harnessing AI for their respective and shared defense missions. The two-day dialogue focused on AI ethical principles for defense, including defining principles and best practices for implementing principles into the AI delivery pipeline.
Over the coming year, the initiative is expected to expand to include more countries with a goal of creating potential frameworks and new tools for international data sharing, cooperative development, and strengthened interoperability. The PfD will also provide a marketplace for sharing policy ideas to encourage international cooperation and multilateral coordination on artificial intelligence for defense.
“We want the Partnership for Defense to be an enduring forum for dialogue among like-minded partners to advance our shared interests in artificial intelligence and help shape the future of our defense cooperation for the digital era,” said Stephanie Culberson, Head of International AI Policy for the JAIC. “Together we can commit to the design, development, and use of responsible AI in defense, ultimately strengthening our cooperation and improving the interoperability of our militaries.”
The inaugural 2020 PfD meeting included military and defense delegations from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Israel, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
PfD organizers said they are in dialogue with other prospective partner nations to expand and enhance this burgeoning international AI defense cooperation forum. The forum expects to meet again early next year.
The dialogue provides meaningful exchange as the United States and participating nations make the transition from hardware centric forces to software centric and data focused militaries that are AI ready. Ultimately, a strong coalition of AI ready militaries will enable the United States and its allies and partners to realize the potential of emerging technology to strengthen global security, deter shared threats, and respond more efficiently together to natural disasters and other international contingencies.
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