As countries prepare to deploy lethal autonomous weapon systems at scale, artificial intelligence is being integrated into drone operations and to support human decision-making in conflicts around the world.

From Gaza to Ukraine, the military applications of AI are fundamentally reshaping the dynamics and ethics of war. What are the implications of AI use on the battlefield? How should policymakers navigate AI’s inherent trade-offs? What legal and moral safeguards are needed to protect civilians from harm?

This expert panel was moderated by Professor Janina Dill, Dame Louise Richardson Chair in Global Security at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, and was co-hosted by the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, and Carnegie Council.

Introduction