Select committee: Defence Committee
Conclusion 3
2nd Report - Developing AI capacity and expertise in UK defence
Published 10 Jan 2025
Addressed to Ministry of Defence
Defence Committee All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
There has been a gap between rhetoric and reality when it comes to Defence AI for some time. MOD statements and policy documents speak about Artificial Intelligence as a paradigm-shifting technology for Defence, and the use of AI in theatres such as Ukraine bears this out. Yet the department has not behaved as though this is the case; AI is still treated as a novelty or a niche interest rather than something that will soon be a core component of defence systems across the Armed Forces. If UK Defence is to become AI-enabled the ‘say-do gap’ must be closed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 20)
From: Defence Committee, 2nd Report - Developing AI capacity and expertise in UK defence (HC 590), 10 January 2025
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 4 April 2025.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the report and agrees with most recommendations, in several cases in general terms or subject to the outcome of the Strategic Defence Review.
- On the Strategic Defence Review, it "agrees in general terms" that specific actions should normalise AI use, though the response "cannot pre-empt the findings of the SDR".
- On the Defence AI Strategy, it believes it is "more pertinent to focus on shaping our future approach" and anticipates the need to refresh its strategic approach, while agreeing that specific, measurable actions will be essential.
- On a new fund to scale innovations, it says ongoing discussions with HM Treasury "prevent a direct response", and will raise the recommendation with the Treasury "where it is appropriate to do so".
- On the Digital Strategy for Defence, it "partially agrees" and plans a refreshed digital strategy with an implementation plan and metrics; it says the Digital Backbone has no completion date.