To ask Her Majesty's Government what mechanisms they are considering for compliance or oversight of the use of artificial intelligence in defence; and, in particular, whether mechanisms they are considering include (1) an internal artificial intelligence regulator, (2) the conversion of the principles included in the Defence Artificial Intelligence Strategy, published on 15 June, to specific standards and procedures, and (3) a means to ensure that weapons systems developed, acquired or deployed by the Ministry of Defence comply with any such standards and procedures.
Answered on
20 September 2022
The internal regulation and governance of standards for AI use in Defence are currently subject to extensive work across the Department. Officials and military colleagues are developing frameworks to assess risk and ensure compliance, across the full spectrum of AI functionality.
Key aspects of this will include requiring Front-Line Commands and equivalent organisations within Defence to appoint 'Accountable Officers' ensuring oversight for AI activity and developing the capacity of the Defence Artificial Intelligence Centre to provide technical oversight and coordinated advice to all units across Defence. We are exploring how the Defence Safety Authority will consider AI within the wider issues across its current remit as the existing independent safety regulator.