techUK Ltd.
techUK Ltd.
11/29/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/29/2024 22:22
Ensuring ethical use, industry leading
Ensuring ethical use, industry leading
Guest blog by Andy Laidler, Chief Digital Officer at Fujitsu #DefTechWeek
Artificial intelligence is transforming Defence, bringing opportunities and risks requiring careful ethical oversight. With AI extending into intelligence, cybersecurity and logistics, Defence leaders must ensure responsible technology advances, guided by ethical frameworks emphasising accountability, transparency and safety.
Why Ethics in AI Matters
AI offers transformative potential, from intelligence analysis to automated cybersecurity solutions. However, the integration of AI must prioritise fairness, transparency and ethical safeguards to prevent unintended harm. In Defence, where AI decisions can have life-altering impacts, ethical standards are essential. Embedding these considerations at every stage of development allows Defence applications to achieve mission-critical goals without eroding trust.
Balancing Automation with Accountability
Finding the balance between human oversight and machine autonomy is a key challenge in Defence AI. Over-reliance on AI could lead to critical decisions lacking human judgment. By maintaining this balance, Defence organisations can use AI to enhance human capabilities while retaining essential human control, reinforcing trust and ensuring accountability in high-stakes scenarios.
Core Ethical Considerations
Ethics in Defence AI focus on three main principles:
- Mitigating Bias: Bias in AI, often due to incomplete or unrepresentative datasets, can lead to discriminatory outcomes. Defence applications must use diverse datasets and development teams to ensure algorithms are fair, minimising bias and fostering inclusive AI systems.
- Ensuring Accountability: AI in Defence must be traceable and explainable, especially when impacting human lives. Transparent, auditable processes enable Defence personnel to understand AI decisions and meet regulatory demands, reinforcing accountability.
- Securing Data Integrity: Data security is paramount in Defence, where classified and sensitive data play a crucial role. Rigorous data protection measures - encryption, controlled access and continuous assessment - are essential to prevent tampering and ensure decisions are grounded in accurate information.
Frameworks for Ethical Governance
Implementing an ethics framework is crucial for AI governance. These frameworks should encompass transparency, accountability and regulatory compliance, providing a foundation for responsible AI deployment. An effective framework includes:
- Transparent data practices for traceable decisions
- Diverse teams incorporating multiple perspectives
- Defined boundaries for human oversight in high-stakes scenarios
Such frameworks serve to ensure AI operates within ethical bounds.
Contextualising Ethical Safeguards
Ethical requirements for AI vary across use cases. Operational applications that directly impact decision-making demand strict safeguards to prevent unintended harm. In contrast, applications like predictive maintenance or administrative tasks carry fewer ethical risks. Maximising AI's potential responsibly requires a tailored ethics framework - one that ensures safeguards are proportionate to each scenario's unique impact and risk level.
The Role of Diverse Teams in Mitigating Bias
AI systems reflect the biases of their data and development teams, making diversity essential in Defence AI. Inclusive teams enhance AI's resilience by identifying potential ethical blind spots. By integrating perspectives, Defence organisations can create equitable AI reducing biases and raising ethical standards.
Industry Collaboration for Ethical AI
Ethics in Defence AI require collaboration. Working with industry, academia and regulators allows Defence organisations to shape and refine ethical standards that keep pace with technological advancements. Through partnerships, the Defence sector can address complex ethical issues, ensuring AI evolves in a way that supports trust and meets regulatory compliance.
Engaging with diverse stakeholders also enables Defence leaders to share best practices and advance policies that foster ethical AI use. This collaborative approach strengthens Defence's role as an ethical leader in technology.
Industry Leading the Way for Ethical Technology
The Defence sector's commitment to ethical AI extends beyond operational needs to ensure technology serves society responsibly. By leading with transparent, accountable and inclusive practices, Defence organisations can set an example for other sectors, advancing innovation without compromising ethical values.
techUK's Defence Campaign Week 2024 - DefTech: Technology Transforming Defence
techUK is pleased to announce our first Defence Campaign Week, running from 25-29 November 2024.
DefTech: Technology Transforming Defence - techUK Report Published
techUK's Defence Programme has published a report looking at how Defence Technologies (DefTech) will revolutionise how the UK defends itself, but that means a change in how governments think about capabilities.
DefTech: Technology Transforming Defence - Campaign Week Launch
Launch for techUK's first Defence Campaign Week with a keynote speech from NSSIF Managing Partner and Head of Investment Hugo Jammes and pitches from SME members.
Defence Programme activities
The Defence programme works to help the UK's defence technology sector align itself with the MOD. techUK members are able to navigate and better understand the UK Defence sector to successfully align their own investment and resources to take advantage of business opportunities. Visit the programme page here.
Defence Campaign Week 2024 - DefTech: Technology Transforming Defence
techUK is pleased to announce our first Defence Campaign Week, running from 25-29 November 2024.
Defence Campaign Week 2024 - SME Pitch and Networking
Launch for techUK's first Defence Campaign Week with a keynote speech from NSSIF Managing Partner and Head of Investment Hugo Jammes and pitches from SME.
Upcoming events
24 January 2025
Ministry of Defence's Defence Digital Software Enterprise - engaging with industry
London Market briefing
30 January 2025
Information Superiority Forum briefing with Mivy James, Chief Digital Technology Officer, Ministry of Defence
London and online Forum
11 February 2025
Defence Commercial Business Forum - Defence Digital Briefing
London and Online ForumLatest news and insights
29 Nov 2024
Ensuring ethical use, industry leading
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Fred is responsible for techUK's activities across the Defence and National Security sectors, working to provide members with access to key stakeholders across the Defence and National Security community. Before taking on the role of Associate Director for Defence and National Security, Fred joined techUK in 2018, working as the Programme Head for Defence at techUK, leading the organisation's engagement with the Ministry of Defence. Before joining techUK, he worked at ADS, the national trade association representing Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space companies in the UK.
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Email: [email protected]Phone: 07985 234 170Raya Tsolova
Senior Programme Manager, techUK
Raya Tsolova is a Programme Manager at techUK.
Prior to joining techUK, Raya worked in Business Development for an expert network firm within the institutional investment space. Before this Raya spent a year in industry working for a tech start-up in London as part of their Growth team which included the formation and development of a 'Let's Talk Tech' podcast and involvement in London Tech Week.
Raya has a degree in Politics and International Relations (Bsc Hons) from the University of Bath where she focused primarily on national security and counter-terrorism policies, centreing research on female-led terrorism and specific approaches to justice there.
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Email: [email protected]Phone: 07712630603Jeremy Wimble
Programme Manager, Defence, techUK
Jeremy manages techUK's defence programme, helping the UK's defence technology sector align itself with the Ministry of Defence - including Defence Digital, DE&S, innovation units and Frontline Commands - through a broad range of activities including private briefings and early market engagement events. It also supports the MOD as it procures new digital technologies.
Prior to joining techUK, from 2016-2024 Jeremy was International Security Programme Manager at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) coordinating research and impact activities for funders including the FCDO and US Department of Defense, as well as business development and strategy.
Jeremy has a MA in International Relations from the University of Birmingham and a BA (Hons) in Politics & Social Policy from Swansea University.
Email: [email protected]Tracy Modha
Team Assistant - Markets, techUK
Tracy supports several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Cyber Security, Defence, Health and Social Care, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.
Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!
Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!
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Andy Laidler
Chief Digital Officer, Fujitsu