[Public Voices] Achievements and Challenges of the REAIM High-Level Summit

Professor Song Tae-eun, Korea National Diplomatic Academy

The 'Responsible AI in the Military Domain Summit (REAIM)' held by our government together with the Netherlands, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Kenya on September 9-10 has successfully concluded. The REAIM Summit is the world's first and only international conference focusing on the 'military use of AI,' led by Korea as a ministerial-level meeting demonstrating global leadership in the fields of emerging security and artificial intelligence technology.

The conference saw direct participation from military and foreign ministries worldwide in various small group meetings and discussions. Approximately 2,000 participants from 96 countries attended, including senior officials and practitioners in defense and foreign affairs, military and industry representatives, international organizations, think tanks, academia, civil society, and students. The key agendas and discussions of this globally spotlighted and multi-sectoral conference are expected to have a significant impact on future AI norms and major technology policies across countries.

This conference was especially prepared jointly by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Defense throughout all stages. It stands as a successful example of military diplomacy where two ministries collaboratively presented the sensitive and delicate issue of 'responsible AI use in the military domain' to the international community, delivering a unified message. The second REAIM meeting serves as a response to the 'Call to Action' from the first 2023 meeting, which emphasized cooperation among stakeholders, including the private sector, in maintaining human control and establishing AI norms in military use.

Following three plenary sessions and 46 small group meetings, the closing session saw our government and co-hosting countries announce the 'Blueprint for Action,' a guideline consisting of 20 articles urging international community action. This blueprint addressing norms for military use of AI first acknowledges the positive impact of still-developing AI technologies on global peace and security, such as enhancing military situational awareness, information discernment, and contributions to peacebuilding. At the same time, it highlights the incomplete understanding and prediction of risks associated with military AI technologies in the modern international community and stresses that AI must not trigger the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and should contribute to international efforts like disarmament and denuclearization.

Moreover, recognizing the differing security environments faced by countries worldwide, the blueprint emphasizes that future discussions on AI military norms must be open and inclusive, excluding no one. To operate an open governance system reflecting diverse national perspectives, capacity building in AI for developing countries is a prerequisite. Narrowing the knowledge gap between countries regarding AI is essential for their participation in norm-building discussions.

Additionally, the blueprint underscores that future governance of military AI use must accompany governance discussions on the data that determine AI algorithms and calls for flexible, balanced, and realistic governance that corresponds to the rapid advancement of AI technology.

Furthermore, since this conference included a TTX exercise addressing various scenarios of AI military use involving youth participation, the blueprint calls for continued involvement of young generations in AI governance discussions. The REAIM Summit signals that as our government utilizes AI militarily in the future, diverse military diplomacy efforts will become increasingly important?not only strengthening military power but also emphasizing AI-related crisis management, governance, and the credibility of our AI policies in the international community.

Song Tae-eun, Professor, International Security and Unification Studies Division, Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, Korea National Diplomatic Academy