AI is transforming all facets of human existence at an astoundingly high pace. Ensuring that this technology is used responsibly is a challenging race against the clock. This holds especially true for the military application of AI.

While AI can be beneficial for the armed forces, the opposite is also true. On the one hand, commanders could rely on AI to quickly analyze complex data to help support effective decision making, potentially leading to more effective and precise operations and less collateral damage. On the other hand, however, improper understanding and oversight might make the situation worse. For instance, biases in training data and lack of human oversight and control could lead to poor operational judgments which could result in unnecessary destruction and suffering. It is therefore vital to advocate for the responsible application of military AI in accordance with international law. The breakneck speed with which AI develops and militaries seek to employ this ground-breaking technology requires us to act now.

REAIM 2024 builds on the discussions and outcomes of the first REAIM summit in 2023, which sought to increase political awareness regarding this topic as a means of ultimately moving towards the development of international agreements on the application of AI in the military domain. Stakeholder delegates from governments, businesses, academia and civil society of over eighty countries attended the summit.

Since the first REAIM summit, a Global Commission on REAIM has been set up, which is a body of preeminent AI scholars that seeks to support fundamental norm development and policy coherence across the globe related to military AI. Furthermore, several regional follow-up meetings were held as part of the REAIM process, in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and North America, and the Middle East and Central Asia.

South Korea – together with its co-hosts Singapore, Kenya, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands – is uniquely positioned to organize REAIM 2024. As a high-tech powerhouse, South Korea produces AI enabling HMB (High Bandwidth Memory) chips, possesses its own generative AI models, and produces innovative defense materials that leverage this technology. Moreover, as a Global Pivotal State, South Korea has led the global debate about AI in general by effectively hosting two additional AI-related summits in 2024. At REAIM 2024, the international community has another opportunity to ensure that the revolutionary power of AI is used responsibly and for the good of global security and stability.