Defence sector looks to identify and mitigate security threats

• AI has changed the way many countries identify and mitigate threats to their national security. AI systems are being used to sift through vast amounts of information, identifying patterns and anomalies to rapidly identify emerging threats or derive insights that might go unnoticed by human analysts, enabling proactive responses;
  
• Predictive maintenance can involve the deployment of AI models to anticipate when parts are likely to fail (based on historic performance data) to efficiently schedule maintenance of equipment before failures occur.
  
• AI can be used to create simulated environments which can be used in various ways, from training personnel to assisting in operational planning; and
  
• AI systems (particularly when deployed in advanced robotics or autonomous vehicles) can protect people from harm by automating ‘dull, dirty and dangerous’ tasks.

The opportunities created by advances in technology often mean new entrants into a sector. For AI systems, for example, developers who previously operated only in the civilian space may decide to offer their products to governments for defence applications and find themselves in the unfamiliar world of defence procurement.

The adoption of AI in defence also raises ethical and strategic concerns. The development of autonomous weapons and the potential for AI-driven cyberattacks pose new challenges that demand careful consideration. Operators in the defence sector deploying AI systems will want to do so responsibly, in a manner which safeguards against misuse. National governments buying AI enabled solutions will want to do so in a manner which is safe and responsible.

For further information, please contact Will Bryson, Mark Leach, Amelia Morris.

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Connected newsletter July 2024: Special AI edition

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