In a collaborative effort, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics, including Mathias Anneken, Nadia Burkart, Fabian Jeschke, Achim Kuwertz-Wolf, Almuth Mueller, Arne Schumann, and Michael Teutsch, have published a white paper that underscores the critical importance of responsibly deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) in military contexts. The paper emphasizes a commitment to ethical and legal standards, recognizing that the evolving role of AI in the military extends beyond mere technical applications, necessitating a framework grounded in ethical principles.
The researchers delve into ethical AI principles, focusing particularly on the Fairness, Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics (FATE) guidelines. They highlight key considerations such as transparency, justice, non-maleficence, and responsibility. The paper also examines military-specific ethical considerations, drawing insights from the Just War theory and principles established by prominent entities. Beyond these established principles, the researchers introduce additional ethical considerations tailored for military AI applications, including traceability, proportionality, governability, responsibility, and reliability.
To illustrate the application of these ethical principles, the paper presents three use cases in the domains of sea, air, and land. These use cases employ methods such as automated sensor data analysis, eXplainable AI (XAI), and intuitive user experience to create scenarios close to real-world military operations. For instance, in the maritime domain, AI could be used to analyze sensor data to detect and identify vessels, with ethical considerations ensuring that the AI system is transparent, accountable, and does not cause unnecessary harm. In the air domain, AI might be employed to analyze satellite imagery, with ethical principles guiding the system’s design to ensure fairness and reliability. On land, AI could assist in analyzing drone footage, with ethical considerations ensuring that the AI system is governable and respects privacy.
The comprehensive approach outlined in this white paper reflects a commitment to aligning technological advancements with established ethical frameworks. The researchers recognize the need for a balance between leveraging AI’s potential benefits in military operations and upholding moral and legal standards. The inclusion of these ethical principles serves as a foundation for the responsible and accountable use of AI in the complex and dynamic landscape of military scenarios. For the defence and security sector, this research provides a crucial roadmap for integrating AI technologies in a manner that is not only technically robust but also ethically sound, ensuring that military operations are conducted with the utmost respect for human rights and international law.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.