- Canada’s Department of National Defence and the military suffer from “fragmentation” and a lack of coordination in the implementation and use of AI, a situation that the new strategy proposes to improve by establishing an internal AI sector centre.
- While Canada is a leader in the use of AI technology, experts have expressed concerns about the clarity and application of the new strategy.
OUR TAKE
Canada’s Department of National Defence and military forces are facing a number of challenges in adopting AI technologies, and a newly released strategy document reveals “fragmentation” and a lack of coordination in their implementation and use of AI. The strategy proposes the creation of an internal AI departmental centre to pool expertise and drive experimentation, testing and deployment of AI technologies. Thus, some high-tech and civil society experts have expressed concerns about the clarity and application of the new strategy, arguing that clearer direction and more comprehensive planning are needed to ensure the effective, safe and responsible application of AI technologies.
-Rae Li, BTW reporter
What happened
Canada’s Department of National Defence and the military have experienced significant “fragmentation” in the implementation and use of AI with a lack of unified strategy and coordination. The newly released strategy document proposes the creation of an internal AI centre to pool expertise and drive experimentation testing and deployment of AI technologies.
Experts notes that Canada needs to clarify its way forward on the application of AI technology at the national level and ensure transparency and oversight of AI-assisted decision-making in a democratic society. They emphasised that Canada has the potential for AI technology applications, but needs to establish a closer link between the military and civilian domains to ensure responsible use of the technology. In addition, the experts raised questions about whether there is enough digital talent in Canada to support military AI applications, as well as a discussion of the ethical and governance issues that need to be considered when selecting partners.
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Why it’s important
The identification and discussion of ‘fragmentation’ in the application of AI by the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces highlights the importance of coherence in military modernisation and technological innovation. A clear, unified AI strategy is critical to ensuring the efficient use of resources, avoiding duplication of effort, and improving overall warfighting capabilities. It is also about how AI technologies are used responsibly in military operations, ensuring compliance with ethical and legal standards, and how AI-assisted decision-making is handled transparently in a democratic society. As such, this discussion has far-reaching implications for the development and implementation of Canadian defence policy.
In addition, Canada’s stance on and application of AI technology in the international arena, particularly in the military domain, will influence global discussions and norms on the governance of AI technology. As a country with advanced technology and research capabilities, Canada’s decisions and practices in the application of AI technology will not only have an impact on domestic policy and military strategy, but may also have a demonstration effect on the international community.
