China security conference highlights AI military risks amid US rivalry

Panelists warned that AI development, coupled with technology rivalries, could heighten global security challenges. This comes as the United States and China, the world's leading AI powers, are set to hold bilateral summit talks this month, though they remain divided on controlling the technology's use in military systems, including nuclear weapons.

Delegates noted that AI has dangerously compressed decision-making timelines for governments and their militaries, while misinformation erodes public trust before effective responses can be mounted. Thailand's Defence Minister Adul Boonthumjaroen remarked that the world is at a critical juncture with increasing strategic competition and ongoing conflicts, emphasizing the need to build an international order.

Jurg Lauber, vice-president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, highlighted the growing necessity of preserving human judgment and control over the use of force as weapon systems become increasingly autonomous. He also pointed to the changing nature of warfare due to the rise of low-cost drones, which stretch and blur front lines over vast distances.

Pakistan's Defense Secretary Muhammad Ali echoed these sentiments, stating that technological advances are compressing strategic timelines, with AI accelerating decisions and disinformation fracturing public trust. Representatives from Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Laos also expressed concerns regarding the impact of AI.