About REAIM 2023
The Netherlands believes the responsible development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the military domain must be given a higher place on the international agenda. It has therefore decided to host the first summit on Responsible AI in the Military Domain – REAIM 2023.
REAIM 2023 took place at the World Forum, The Hague, on 15 and 16 February 2023. The summit provided a platform for all stakeholders (governments, industry, civil society, academia and think tanks) to forge a common understanding of the opportunities, dilemmas and vulnerabilities associated with military AI.
Check out the REAIM 2023 programme.
Wopke Hoekstra, Minister of Foreign Affairs: The rise of AI is one of the greatest future challenges in international security and arms control.
Manufacturing robots,
self-driving cars, chatbots.
Machines and software
are becoming increasingly independent...
in carrying out tasks
and making their own decisions.
We call this Artificial Intelligence.
AI is a technology
that is fundamentally changing our world...
and rapidly becoming part of our daily lives.
Military organisations around the world
are increasingly adopting AI...
in analyzing data
and in decision-making processes.
This military application of AI is essential
for defending our global values...
against present and future threats.
But there are concerns about potential risks.
Will we as humans still be in control?
Will AI lower the threshold for the use of force?
Who is responsible if AI makes a mistake?
It is critical for the international community
to look at both the opportunities and the risks...
and to take responsibility
for the potential applications of this technology...
now and in the future.
The Netherlands strives to be a progressive
and responsible high-tech country.
That is why we are organising the REAIM Summit
on responsible AI in the Military domain.
The summit is hosted by Dutch Minister
of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra...
in close cooperation with the Ministry of Defence.
It will be held on February 15 and 16, 2023
in The Hague...
international city of peace and justice.
During the REAIM Summit,
governments, businesses, academics...
and civil society organisations
from around the world will come together.
They will decide
on what actions need to be taken...
to ensure the military application of AI
is dealt with responsibly...
including research, development,
innovation, application...
and the frameworks
that govern the use of AI globally.
These actions will ensure
that AI remains in the service of people...
and a tool only used with the greatest of care.
The Hague/TheNetherlands 2023 February 15-16
REAIM
Responsible AI in the Military domain Summit
www.government.nl/reaim
Opportunities and concerns
Artificial intelligence is bringing about fundamental changes to our world, including in the military domain. While the integration of AI technologies creates unprecedented opportunities to boost human capabilities, especially in terms of decision-making, it also raises significant legal, security-related and ethical concerns in areas like transparency, reliability, predictability, accountability and bias. These concerns are amplified in the high-risk military context.
Purpose of REAIM 2023
REAIM 2023 aimed to:
- put the topic of responsible AI in the military domain higher on the political agenda;
- mobilise and activate a wide group of stakeholders to contribute to concrete next steps;
- foster and increase knowledge by sharing experiences, best practices and solutions.
Themes of REAIM 2023
REAIM 2023 was organised along the following themes:
- Mythbusting AI: breaking down the characteristics of AI – what do we need to know about the technical aspects of AI to understand how it can be applied responsibly in a military context?
- Responsible deployment and use of AI – what do military applications of AI mean in practice? What are the main benefits and vulnerabilities?
- Governance frameworks – which frameworks exist to ensure AI is applied responsibly in the military domain? What additional instruments and tools could strengthen governance frameworks, and how can stakeholders contribute?