"Not smart enough": The poverty of European military thinking on artificial intelligence

Summary

• There is currently too little European thinking about what artificial intelligence means for the military.
• AI experts tend to overlook Europe, focusing on the US and China. But AI will play an important role for Europe’s defence capabilities, and its funding and development decisions will influence the future of military AI.
• France and Germany stand at opposite ends of the AI spectrum in Europe: France considers AI a part of geopolitical competition and shows clear interest in military AI, while Germany sees AI only as an economic and societal issue.
• The new European Commission’s stated goal of achieving “European technological sovereignty” should lead it to include engagement on the topic of military AI, and help EU member states harmonise their approaches.
• Failing to coordinate properly in this area could threaten future European defence cooperation, including PESCO and the European Defence.

Read the article: https://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/not_smart_enough_poverty_european_military_thinking_artificial_intelligence