The Ministry of Defense sets its first AI policy and seven priority areas
On July 2, the Ministry of Defense adopted its first basic policy for promoting the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The Ministry of Defense stated that they will plan to reduce the burden on SDF’s members and manpower by utilizing AI in order to maintain the SDF’s system despite a declining population. The ministry will also plan to use AI effectively in seven fields, including the detection and identification of targets using radar and satellite images.
The basic policy, which is called the “Basic Policy for the Promotion of AI Utilization”, states that it is pointed out that AI would decide aspect of warfare in the near future considering efforts by the U.S. and Chinese militaries to utilize AI. This also stated that it is urgent to respond to a “new way of fighting” involving space, cyber, and electromagnetic waves in addition to land, sea, and air and operate personnel efficiently. It is also pointed out that we are now at a crossroads whether we are falling behind and becoming an inefficient, old-fashioned organization or not.
It also recognized that AI also carries risks of error and bias and emphasized that what AI does is support for human decisions, and human involvement should be ensured.
The seven areas in which AI will be used mostly are: (1) target detection and identification; (2) collection and analysis of information from the Internet and radio waves; (3) decision support for commanders; (4) logistics support such as supply and maintenance; (5) control of unmanned vehicles; (6) improvement of cyber security capabilities; and (7) efficiency of administration work.