AI & Defensive Modernization: A Global Discussion

AI and Defensive Modernisation: A Global Discussion

A session focusing on “Defensive Modernisation as the Technology Driver” featured discussions connecting military innovation to its ethical, legal, and global implications. This session of the ‘Understanding AI Program’ by the Silkroad 4.0 Platform, the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES), and partners explored AI's impact on global security, defence strategies, and geopolitical power.

The lectures addressed how technologies that remove human presence are changing security approaches and the geopolitical implications of broad tech reach, as well as the ethical and legal issues of regulating AI internationally. Discussions also covered sovereignty and security in the digital age, AI's role in military confrontations, and the need for global management.

Keynote Speakers

Ambassador Ali Goutali from the OIC discussed AI's dual nature, describing it as a tool for knowledge-sharing, early pandemic warnings, and better surveillance, but also as a risk. He warned that AI could destabilise governments if unchecked and suggested global AI conventions.

Admiral Davor Domazet-Lošo shared his views on military strategy, examining the increase in information warfare, which he believes impairs independent thought. He noted China's AI capabilities and its “deep seek” AI system. He stated that AI-driven military strategy now operates in hyper-real time, and that information dominance and computational speed are critical.

Admiral Lošo mentioned the potential for combat in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the risks in areas like the Malacca Straits and South China Sea, with overlapping claims and imperfect unmanned systems. He expressed concern over how conventional naval doctrine struggles when milliseconds of latency can affect a ship's survival, questioning control and accountability in a digitally saturated space.

Lily Ong's Presentation

Lily Ong, a geopolitical and cybersecurity analyst from Singapore, discussed AI's transformative effect on global power dynamics. She explained AI’s military uses, from automated defence systems to cyber operations and information warfare. Ong also addressed the ethical and legal questions of AI-enabled warfare.

Ong responded to a question about the instability of advanced AI capabilities, stating that countries need to keep up to protect themselves and remain relevant. She emphasized education and urged the Global South to participate in capacity building through education, innovation, and shared knowledge.

Ong also noted that technological sovereignty would allow more actors to have a greater impact, adding complexity to AI-enabled warfare.

The speakers emphasized the need for global protocols, international participation, and education. They called for both younger and older generations to learn about AI risks and opportunities, agreeing that adaptation is essential. The session provided insights and human-centered reflection on AI's rapid advancement, highlighting the need for collective oversight and responsibility. The next session is scheduled for June 12th.