News Briefing 16 April 2025

Editorial:

The global arms race to achieve military superiority in autonomous weapons and AI-driven warfare has intensified as nations compete to develop advanced technologies capable of reshaping combat dynamics. AI-powered defense systems promise increased precision and efficiency, yet their integration into military strategy raises significant ethical and legal concerns, while also presenting a challenge to international law including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The biases and inaccuracies observed in civilian AI applications—such as facial recognition errors, algorithmic discrimination, and flawed decision-making in predictive policing—underscore the potential risks of relying on automated systems in warfare. Misjudgments in algorithmic targeting could lead to unintended casualties, disproportionately affect marginalized communities, and blur the lines of accountability in armed conflict. As AI continues to evolve, the race for supremacy must also reckon with the urgent need for transparency, ethical oversight, and regulatory frameworks to mitigate these dangers.

Autonomy in weapons systems, and AI in security and defence

• US: Military AI Will Mean Overhauling Test as Well as Tactics: DOD’s First AI Chief: Air and space force reports that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into U.S. military operations is prompting a significant re-evaluation of traditional testing and evaluation (T&E) methods. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, the first director of the Department of Defense’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Centre, emphasizes that conventional T&E processes, designed for hardware and infrequent software updates, are inadequate for the rapid and continuous updates characteristic of AI systems.​
• UK: AI in Defence: Ethics, Risks, and the Future of Autonomous Warfare: This piece by BCS covers the UK Government’s plan to increase defense spending and invest in AI-enabled technologies, including autonomous systems and drones. Professor Bernd Stahl, a BCS Fellow and member of the BCS Ethics Committee, shares his concerns about the ethical implications of autonomous military systems and the need for careful consideration of their use. The professor emphasizes the importance of keeping humans in the loop and focusing on diplomacy and reducing the risk of war rather than relying solely on technological advancements.
• NATO: NATO Science and Technology report identifies trends shaping the future of science, defence and security for the next 20 years: The NATO Science & Technology Organization (STO) has published its Science & Technology Macro Trends Report 2025–2045, identifying six key trends that will shape science, defence, and security for the next 20 years. These trends include evolving competition areas, the race for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and quantum superiority, biotechnology revolution, resource divide, fragmenting public trust, and technology integration and dependencies. The report highlights uncertainty on the exact capabilities of AI and automation for military uses in the future, but mentions extensive investments and zeal for incorporation of these technologies as essential for military superiority. 
• US: Shield AI rolls out radar-free surveillance system for combat aircraft: Shield AI, a defense technology firm, unveiled its new AI-enabled passive surveillance system, ViDAR Pod, which uses multi-spectral cameras and embedded processing for real-time, radar-free surveillance of land and sea targets. The system, designed for unmanned aerial systems, enables persistent ISR operations in contested environments and can detect a wide range of threats. Shield AI, founded in 2015, develops autonomous systems and AI software for U.S. and allied forces.
• International: Microsoft employee disrupts 50th anniversary and calls AI boss ‘war profiteer’: The Verge reports that a Microsoft employee, Ibtihal Aboussad, disrupted the company’s 50th anniversary event to protest Microsoft AI’s involvement in powering genocide in Palestine. She sent an email to hundreds or thousands of Microsoft employees, expressing her concerns about the company’s complicity in the ongoing genocide and urging them to take action. The email detailed how Microsoft AI technology is used by the Israeli military for surveillance and targeting civilians, and how the company has been profiting from these contracts. Aboussad was later dismissed from her role at Microsoft.
• Ukraine: How Ukraine’s Drones are Beating Russian Jamming: This piece in IEEE Spectrum discusses how Ukraine’s military has adapted to modern warfare with the use of drones, data, and artificial intelligence. It looks at innovation in operating drones in signal deprived contexts, due to jamming, with the help of multiple geo satellites and wide range radio frequencies. The piece highlights ‘terminal guidance’ technology developed by Auterion, a defense company, which is reportedly the ‘first step toward smart, fully autonomous drones.’ 

AI, algorithms and autonomy in the wider world

• EU: EU unveils biggest AI strategy yet, including simplifying the AI Act: The EU has launched its most ambitious AI strategy yet through the AI Continent Action Plan, aiming to strengthen Europe’s global competitiveness in AI. Major goals intended in the strategy include : ‘building a large-scale AI data and computing infrastructure, increasing access to large and high-quality data, developing algorithms, fostering AI adoption, strengthening AI skills and talents, and finally – simplifying regulation, including the EU AI Act.’ 
• US: An Algorithm Deemed This Nearly Blind 70-Year-Old Prisoner a “Moderate Risk.” Now He’s No Longer Eligible for Parole: A new Louisiana law uses an algorithm called TIGER to deny parole to inmates labeled “moderate” or “high risk,” that includes a nearly blind 70-year-old man that is under question. The system ignores rehabilitation efforts and relies on unchangeable past factors, raising concerns about racial bias, fairness, and constitutionality.
• US: AI, Algorithm-Based Health Insurer Denials Pose New Legal Threat: A growing number of lawsuits in the US  are challenging health insurers’ use of AI and algorithms to deny medical claims. Cases against companies like Cigna and UnitedHealthcare allege that these tools wrongly reject coverage, often without proper review. While some courts are allowing the lawsuits to proceed, proving that algorithms made the decisions remains difficult. Legal experts warn that these automated denials could expose insurers to significant legal risk.
• US: UK creating ‘murder prediction’ tool to identify people most likely to kill: The UK government is developing a controversial “murder prediction” tool that uses algorithms to analyze data from convicted offenders to assess who might commit serious violence. The project, uncovered by watchdog group Statewatch, reportedly includes sensitive data such as mental health, self-harm, and domestic abuse histories—raising concerns about privacy and bias. Critics say the tool is “chilling” and could reinforce discrimination, especially against ethnic minorities and low-income individuals. The Ministry of Justice claims it’s for research only and aims to improve public safety by enhancing risk assessment for violent crimes.
• International: Can AI predict who will commit crime?: In an article for Biometric Update, Professor Fraser Sampson explores the complex and controversial question: can AI predict future crimes? He argues that while AI can make probabilistic forecasts using existing data, human behavior is far too situational and unpredictable for reliable criminal predictions. Sampson warns that such tools risk reinforcing societal biases, raising ethical and legal concerns. Instead, he suggests AI be used to improve current policing practices—like identifying vulnerabilities or improving officer welfare—rather than attempting to foresee future crimes. He cautions against letting predictive policing become a high-tech form of prejudice.

Facial recognition, biometric identification, surveillance

• UK: Scottish Biometrics Commissioner launches consultation on LFR with police: Biometric Update reports that the ‘Scottish Biometrics Commissioner and local law enforcement agencies have launched a consultation on police use of live facial recognition (LFR).’ 
• UK: Police told not to close investigations until they have used facial recognition: The Telegraph reports on the use of facial recognition systems by the police, with the independent police inspectorate urging forces to ‘fully exploit’ the technology. The piece expresses concern on the lack of guidance on the use of facial recognition by law enforcement by either the Home Office or the College of Policing. Further, the Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK released a statement calling for ‘necessary and proportionate’ use of facial recognition technologies, as well as ensuring ‘fairness and accuracy.’