Spanish MFA closes world's largest debate on responsible use of military AI in A Coruña

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation closed the third REAIM Summit on the Responsible Use of AI in the Military Domain on Thursday, organised jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence, with the collaboration of the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Civil Service and the City Council of A Coruña. This was done through the Director General of Foreign and Security Policy Alberto Ucelay.

With the holding of this summit on 4 and 5 February, Spain, together with the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea, has become the centre of the world's biggest debate on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in the military sphere, a conversation of great relevance given the rapid developments in these technologies and their potential risks.

At the closing ceremony, the Foreign Office highlighted its commitment to multilateralism at a time of profound change in the international system, in which no country can face the new challenges that arise alone, nor take advantage of the benefits of new technologies.

The REAIM Summit, with more than 1,500 registered participants from around the world, was attended by more than 80 delegations from countries and international organisations and brought together policy makers, think tanks, developers and civil society organisations with the aim of generating an inclusive dialogue through which to build international consensus, so that AI in the military sphere can contribute to international peace and security.​

Spain, as the host country of the Summit, has emphasised that the use of artificial intelligence must respect the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, with special emphasis on international humanitarian law and human rights. Similarly, since the Summit was conceived, it has been emphasised that artificial intelligence must be developed within a human-centred approach, preserving human responsibility and control at all times, especially in critical decisions such as the use of force.

The third REAIM Summit has been built on previous multilateral efforts, including the declarations and action plans of the REAIM Summits in Seoul and The Hague, the work of the REAIM Global Commission, the report of the UN Secretary-General and the resolutions of the General Assembly, which recognise the implications of military AI for international peace and security.

For images of the event, click here.