Select committee: Defence Committee
Conclusion 42
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)
Artificial Intelligence has the potential to transform defence in fundamental ways, from back office functions to the front line, and to provide a decisive advantage in military competition and conflict. We are already seeing AI being deployed effectively in Ukraine, showing that AI is no longer something on the horizon but a reality with which defence must engage. Given the breadth of potential applications of AI there are few areas of defence which would not benefit from being AI-enabled or AI-enhanced, and so MOD needs to start thinking about AI as an integral part of how it solves problems and meets its objectives. This entails both practical and cultural change: MOD requires digital infrastructure to enable the development and deployment of AI but also a change in mindset to adapt to a world where military advantage may increasingly be delivered by digital capabilities and cheaper platforms that can be rapidly developed, deployed and iterated. (Conclusion, Paragraph 121)
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.