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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has permeated all aspects of human life, including its crucial role in defence and security, which has become a focal point, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. The integration of AI in defence has sparked extensive debates on its implications for national security, military strategies, and ethical considerations, indicating the depth of its impact and the need for careful evaluation.
One of the primary concerns revolves around how AI could revolutionise military, security, and defence operations. This revolution introduces concepts like autonomous weapons systems, unmanned vehicles, and cyber warfare capabilities, marking a significant shift in how AI is adopted in these fields.
Moreover, there is a growing interest in understanding how AI will shape defence strategies and operations by 2035, potentially altering the balance of power in the region and leading to new alliances and strategic rivalries.
While AI advancements promise strategic advantages, they also raise ethical dilemmas, especially regarding the use of AI in making life-or-death decisions, highlighting the need for robust ethical frameworks and guidelines. The evolving nature of AI and its rapid advancements necessitate continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure its responsible and ethical use in defence and security contexts.
Anto Satriyo Nugroho, former Head of the Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security (PRKAKS) at the Indonesian Agency for Research and Innovation (BRIN), emphasised the pivotal role of various AI technologies in advancing research in defence and security. He highlighted technologies like Computer Vision, Machine Learning (ML), Cyber Security, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and others, underlining their importance in enhancing defence and security systems’ capabilities.
Further, Achmad Farid Wadjdi, an Associate Expert Engineer at PRKAKS-BRIN, discussed the importance of understanding the concept of national defence, particularly in the context of the Internet of Battlefield Things (IoT) and its applications in modern combat operations and smart warfare. He emphasised the need to ensure security in military operations when deploying IoT technologies, indicating the complexity and critical nature of AI integration in defence systems.
Conversely, Eddy Maruli Tua Sianturi explained the conceptualisation of measuring the State Defence Index (IBN) to understand better citizens’ sense of pride, patriotism, nationalism, and willingness to defend the country. The IBN measurement provides a nuanced approach to grasping current socio-political dynamics. Still, it also requires addressing challenges such as data bias, privacy concerns, and security issues, highlighting the multidimensional nature of AI’s impact on defence and security.
PRKAKS-BRIN Associate Engineer Jemie Muliadi introduced the Intelligent Control System method for law enforcement and state sovereignty applications in a related context. This method effectively manages complex systems that are challenging to simplify, those with cross-coupling that are difficult to separate, and systems with significant parameter changes over time. Jemie emphasised that this method ensures precise control in fast-moving and uncertain situations, particularly in law enforcement and state sovereignty contexts, showcasing the versatility and potential of AI in enhancing national defence and security operations.
Integrating AI in defence and security represents a significant advancement with far-reaching implications. While AI offers numerous benefits in enhancing defence capabilities, it also poses ethical, legal, and security challenges that must be addressed through collaborative efforts between governments, researchers, and industry stakeholders.
By fostering responsible AI development and deployment practices, the Asia-Pacific region can harness AI’s transformative power while ensuring its citizens’ safety, security, and well-being. This approach involves developing robust AI governance frameworks, ensuring transparency and accountability in AI systems, and promoting international cooperation to address common AI-related challenges.
“In advancing the defence and security with AI, Indonesia’s security will benefit from the strategic integration of AI technologies. These advancements can enhance Indonesia’s military capabilities, improve situational awareness, and strengthen its ability to respond to security threats effectively,” Jemie concluded.
