The Rt Hon Geoffrey Hoon
It’s a privilege to be here[2] with defense professionals, technologists, scholars, and strategic thinkers—each committed to shaping a secure and resilient global future. I extend my sincere thanks to Professor Anis H. Bajrektarevic, to IFIMES, and to the Global Academy for the Geo-Politico-Technological Futures for organizing this vital series of discussion on artificial intelligence and robotics—topics that increasingly defines the trajectory of our global civilisation: the understanding—and the implications—of Artificial Intelligence.
Having spent the better part of my career immersed in questions of national defence, strategy, and governance, I have often been confronted with new technologies that force us to recalibrate both our expectations and our responsibilities. From the Cold War’s nuclear stand-off to today’s digital battlefield, each generation faces its own version of transformative risk. In our time, that risk—and that promise—carries a name: Artificial Intelligence.
I. The Strategic Importance of Understanding AI
When I first entered public service, technology was already beginning to reshape military doctrine. Precision weaponry, network-centric warfare, unmanned systems—these were harbingers of a revolution in defence affairs. But Artificial Intelligence is different. It is not merely another instrument in our arsenal; it is a force multiplier, a decision-maker, and potentially, a policy-shaper in its own right.
AI systems can now interpret satellite images with greater accuracy than human analysts. They can autonomously monitor cyber threats, control drone swarms, and conduct real-time logistics coordination with minimal human oversight. In the future, they may be entrusted with decisions that bear lethal consequences. The strategic implications are profound, and they extend well beyond the battlefield.
But AI is not limited to defence. It is woven into our healthcare systems, financial institutions, transport networks, and increasingly, our democratic processes. In short, the domain of AI is the domain of governance itself.
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