The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Security Affairs

Date: Monday, June 15, 2020
Time: 1pm – 2pm (HK Time)
Speaker: Dr. Daphné Richemond-Barak (Assistant Professor, Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy, IDC Herzliya, Israel)

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming security in significant but often misunderstood ways. The analysis of the role of AI has so far been limited to one relatively small application of cognitive technologies: autonomous weapons, also known as killer robots. Though killer robots deserve attention, they are only the tip of the iceberg. I propose to look beyond these important but notwithstanding limited applications of cognitive technologies and examine instead the role of AI in speeding up and altering decision-making processes, enhancing the protection of civilians in disasters and conflict, weakening alliances, predicting the other side’s moves, and revolutionizing intelligence gathering. Even if states choose not to pursue certain AI-enabled applications, they need to understand and anticipate how others may make use of AI. I suggest a conceptualization of AI’s broad impact that is nuanced, and cognizant of both the positive and disruptive role AI plays in security.

About the speaker: Dr. Daphné Richemond-Barak is Assistant Professor in the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at IDC Herzliya, Israel. She also serves as Senior Researcher and Head of the International Law Desk at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT).