The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming part of our everyday lives. It allows us to perform a range of tasks more quickly and efficiently, such as helping us to stay organized and providing us with more personalized online experiences. Now, AI is being used in the military too to automate certain operations, like surveillance and offensive systems. But this raises concerns about the ethical implications of such AI applications, especially in an industry as complex as the military.
In order to handle these ethical concerns, the US Department of Defense (DOD) has recently released a declaration outlining ten principles for the responsible use of AI in the military. The document, which is a part of the DOD’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC), serves as a reference and guide to create, use and scale AI solutions within the military.
The ten principles are as follows:
1. Responsible and lawful use: The DOD seeks AI applications that are responsible, lawful and respectful of human rights.
2. Shared ownership: The DOD seeks to enable shared ownership of AI technologies, to enable stakeholders to work together to shape the ethical use of AI.
3. Transparency: The DOD seeks systems that are transparent and explainable, to enable stakeholders to understand how AI systems make decisions.
4. Safety and reliability: The DOD seeks systems that are safe, secure, robust and reliable to ensure mission success.
5. Human-centeredness: The DOD seeks to develop AI solutions that are designed and operated to complement and enhance human capabilities for mission effectiveness.
6. Design for appropriate use: The DOD seeks to ensure AI applications are designed for their intended purpose, to ensure ethical and responsible outcomes.
7. Test and evaluate: The DOD seeks to ensure continual testing, evaluation and validation of AI applications to increase effectiveness and reduce risks.
8. Equal opportunity: The DOD seeks systems that are designed to reduce bias, and promote equal opportunity and fairness.
9. Contingency plans: The DOD seeks to have contingency plans to safely address the possibility of unforeseen results.
10. Monitor and respond: The DOD seeks to continually monitor, assess, identify and respond to changing needs and risks.
These principles are intended to help guide the US military and its technology partners to responsibly operate and deploy AI-driven systems in the military. This important step shows that the US government is taking the ethical implications of AI in the military seriously, and seeks to ensure that any AI applications used in the military are used in a responsible and positive way. With the right ethical framework in place, AI could be an important asset in helping to protect the nation and its citizens into the future.
Hey Subscribe to our newsletter for more articles like this directly to your email.