“Weekend Briefing” is a weekly newsletter sent to subscribers of The Readable every Friday. Our journalists select important news items from the previous week on topics ranging from privacy to policy development in cybersecurity, all to help you stay abreast of the latest breaking issues. And not only is this provided free of cost to our subscribers, but the briefing contains new content exclusive to subscribers, such as our insightful industrial reports.
An international conference on military artificial intelligence was held in Seoul earlier this week, bringing together top thinkers from over 90 countries to explore the uncertain futures posed by AI technologies. Following two days of discussions among nearly a hundred national delegates, the Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) Summit adopted the “Blueprint for Action,” a joint declaration on the responsible use of AI in warfare.
The document, which outlines principles for using AI in the military domain—including compliance with international law, maintaining human control, and enhancing AI trustworthiness—was endorsed by 61 nations. Readers will find a full statement in this briefing, along with two stories directly reported from the REAIM Summit 2024 by The Readable.
A day after the REAIM Summit, the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) and the inaugural international cyber training exercise, APEX (Allied Power Exercise) 2024, also commenced. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol attended APEX 2024 in person, observing the initial stage of the cyber project he had promised to NATO member and partner states in July of the previous year. I had the opportunity to personally tour the training site while international collaboration was in full swing. I’ve included several pictures from the event and an article about the exercise.
Stories on the use of AI in cyber insurance and the latest developments in Chinese cyber espionage are must-reads as well.
This is Dain Oh reporting from South Korea, and here is your weekend briefing.
1. Regulating autonomous AI systems is key to avoiding apocalypse, experts say
Seoul, South Korea―REAIM 2024―Internationally recognized experts in artificial intelligence have come together to raise concerns about autonomous AI systems. These leading voices warn that the development and spread of unregulated autonomous AI in the military sector poses serious risks to global peace and security. They argue that such advancements should be strictly prohibited, similar to global efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
Saeed Al Dhaheri, Director of the Center for Future Studies at the University of Dubai, took the stage during the plenary session at the 2024 REAIM (Responsible AI in the Military Domain) Summit on Monday, calling for a robust international framework to regulate the development of autonomous weapons systems integrated with AI.
Referring to a statement published by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in March of 2021, which warned that “weapon systems with autonomy in their critical functions of selecting and attacking targets are an immediate humanitarian concern,” Al Dhaheri explained that autonomous AI systems undermine global stability by challenging human accountability and increasing complexity-related risks, such as occur in system malfunctions.
“The proliferation of these systems could trigger an international arms race while increasing reliance on AI, potentially leading to decisions that erode global peace,” said Al Dhaheri. He further warned that in AI-driven cyber warfare, unreliable technology could be exploited by adversaries to disrupt citizens’ daily lives, target critical infrastructure, and threaten nuclear facilities, ultimately escalating cyber conflicts. READ MORE
2. UK experts call for strategic regulation of military AI
Seoul, South Korea―REAIM 2024―National security and technology experts from the United Kingdom attended REAIM 2024, a conference focused on the responsibilities and international security implications of military artificial intelligence. The experts presented various strategic challenges associated with AI and emphasized the need for regulation from multiple perspectives.
Kenneth Payne, Professor of Strategy at King’s College London, noted that AI could shift the balance of power between nations. He highlighted the uncertainty surrounding AI’s impact on conflict escalation and the unpredictability of interactions with military AI. Payne stressed that the way countries leverage AI could significantly influence their national strategies.
“We are currently too focused on the limitations of AI,” Payne said. “AI is becoming more flexible and powerful, with the potential for creative applications. This advancement could transform it from merely a tool into a strategically important asset. While it is likely to become a significant factor in strategic interactions, this potential is rarely discussed.”
Brianna Rosen, a Strategy and Policy Fellow at the Blavatnik School of Government, noted that AI could escalate conflicts and alter the speed and scope of military decisions. Additionally, it can lead to unpredictable patterns of behavior, complicating the attribution of responsibility, she added. READ MORE
3. Full statement: REAIM Blueprint for Action
Artificial Intelligence (AI), as an enabling technology, holds extraordinary potential to transform every aspect of military affairs, including military operations, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) activities, training, information management and logistical support.
With the rapid advancement and progress in AI, there is a growing interest by states to leverage Al technology in the military domain. At the same time, AI applications in the military domain could be linked to a range of challenges and risks from humanitarian, legal, security, technological, societal or ethical perspectives that need to be identified, assessed and addressed.
To harness the benefits and opportunities of AI while adequately addressing the risks and challenges involved, AI capabilities in the military domain, including systems enabled by Al, should be applied in a responsible manner throughout their entire life cycle and in compliance with applicable international law, in particular, international humanitarian law. READ MORE
4. Global defense leaders discuss emerging security threats at Seoul Defense Dialogue
Global leaders in defense and security from 67 countries convened in Seoul on Wednesday and Thursday to address emerging global security threats and explore strategies for countering them through international alliances.
The Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), hosted by the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the Republic of Korea (MND), are now in their 13th iteration since their inception in 2012. Defense ministers and security experts assembled at the event discussed how to enhance cooperation and promote peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister of South Korea, delivered the keynote address at the dialogue, underscoring that “the world is facing cyber warfare, which is difficult to address with our current approach to response. Solidarity and cooperation within the international community are important in countering security threats.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that the escalating cyber warfare poses a significant threat to global security. Han specifically expressed concern about North Korea’s illegal nuclear and missile development, noting that the country is using cyberattacks to fund its illicit weapons programs, thereby endangering global security. Additionally, he highlighted that North Korea’s military partnership with Russia further exacerbates these security threats. READ MORE
5. Renewed phase of Chinese espionage operation targeted government agency in Southeast Asia
A closely watched Chinese government-backed cyber espionage campaign has been found targeting a prominent Southeast Asian government agency, new findings out Tuesday reveal.
The Crimson Palance campaign, tracked by Sophos researchers, details newer and more sophisticated cyberattacks targeting government organizations, non-governmental entities and public service networks in the region.
According to the analysis, the attackers stole sensitive documents, keys for cloud systems—including those for disaster recovery and backups—as well as essential authentication keys, certificates and configuration data for IT and network infrastructure.
The Sophos Managed Detection and Response team discovered the campaign’s expansion after detecting renewed activity following a brief period of dormancy in mid-2023. Although the operation appeared to cease in August of 2023, one attack vector dubbed Cluster Charlie resumed its malicious activity several weeks later, signaling the start of a second phase of the campaign. READ MORE
6. US companies use AI to claim cyber insurance, a survey reveals
With more than 60 percent of companies in the United States having filed a cyber insurance claim in the last 12 months, U.S. companies are increasingly adopting advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to secure cyber insurance coverage and mitigate rising costs, according to a report.
On Tuesday, the identity security service provider Delinea released its 2024 Cyber Insurance Research Report, surveying 306 decision-makers with insights into their organization’s cyber insurance application and renewal processes. The report highlights the growing challenges companies face in maintaining insurability amidst evolving risk factors.
The report revealed that cyber insurance is increasingly dependent on advanced technologies, such as AI and identity solutions, to keep up with the evolving threat landscape. As organizations invest in complex enterprise environments, half of U.S. companies are now utilizing AI-supported threat detection and monitoring solutions.
These advanced technologies are proving instrumental in reducing cyber insurance premiums, giving policyholders a strategic advantage as overall insurance costs rise. Forward-thinking companies are leveraging AI to negotiate lower rates by demonstrating visibility and controls that reduce their risk. They are using AI to ensure that cybersecurity solutions and policies are effective and to manage ongoing incidents. This reduces both the dwell time of threat agents and the impact of attacks, making these companies more adequate for insurance coverage. READ MORE
7. South Korea hosts international cyber exercise, inviting 24 nations to Seoul
[This article was published on September 5] Seoul, South Korea―An international cyber exercise, proposed by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at last summer’s NATO summit, will bring security experts from around the world to Seoul next week.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) announced on Wednesday that South Korea will lead an international cyber defense drill, named the “APEX (Allied Power Exercise) 2024,” at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in Seoul from September 10 to 12.
The global exercise will proceed simultaneously with the Cyber Summit Korea (CSK) 2024, a conference whish is also hosted by the NIS.
In APEX 2024, approximately 70 cybersecurity professionals from 24 countries, including the United States, Italy, Japan, and Singapore, will be divided into teams to jointly respond to simulated cyber crises. Unlike traditional cyber exercises, which are often competitive, APEX 2024 emphasizes fostering cooperation among participating nations, the NIS explained in a statement. READ MORE
