TOKYO - Artificial intelligence has become a powerful tool for military deterrence, giving countries such as Ukraine an edge against larger adversaries such as Russia, a Japanese defense expert said Thursday, while warning of the risks of relying on the technology.
"While nuclear weapons were considered a deterrent in the 20th century, the deterrence capability of countries with advanced military AI is rapidly increasing," said Chiaki Akimoto, distinguished fellow of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies in London.
Speaking at a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, he said the trend is evident in Ukraine's ability to hold its own against Russia despite having fewer troops, thanks to its more advanced use of AI.
As AI-equipped drones are increasingly deployed in combat, concerns are growing worldwide over their use in conflicts such as the war between Ukraine and Russia that began with Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor in 2022.
Referring to the challenges posed by the military use of AI, Akimoto, a former defense and security journalist at Japan's public broadcaster NHK, cited risks such as AI-equipped drones misidentifying targets.
He also said it is unclear who would be held responsible in the event of a misjudgment, adding that the lack of accountability could hamper efforts to help victims and lead to the irresponsible proliferation of AI-equipped weapons.
"The major challenge we are currently facing is how humans can work in collaboration with AI and robots to secure global security," he added.
