NATO defense ministers adopt strategy on artificial intelligence

Bogeyman · Oct 22, 2021

Allies set up $1B fund to support research on emerging, disruptive technologies

NATO defense ministers on Friday approved the alliance’s first strategy on artificial intelligence and the establishment of the NATO Innovation Fund.

NATO allies signed an agreement on setting up the alliance’s first Innovation Fund, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced following the second day of the NATO defense ministerial meeting.

“NATO's new innovation fund will ensure us to not miss out on the latest technology and capabilities that will be critical to our security,” he added.

The initiative, financed by 17 NATO member states, will support research and development on emerging and disruptive technologies with over $1 billion.

NATO defense ministers also adopted the alliance’s first Artificial Intelligence Strategy that sets the standards for the use of this technology with the respect of international law.

The strategy outlines “how we will accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence in what we do, set out how we will protect this technology and address the threats posed by the use of artificial intelligence by adversaries”, the NATO chief explained.

The NATO ministers also held talks with partners Finland, Sweden, and the EU on the last day of their meeting.

“NATO-EU cooperation has already reached unprecedented levels,” Stoltenberg said, citing the cooperation in cyberspace and maritime mission at the Aegean Sea as examples.

He welcomed the EU’s renewed efforts in strengthening the defense capabilities, but warned that the EU needed more investment on high-end capabilities and not new defense structures since “our transatlantic alliance remains the bedrock of security, and Europe and North America will continue to stand strong together in NATO.”