The United States is working with Nigeria to design the framework for applying Artificial Intelligence, AI, in military operations.

Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability at the U.S. Department of State, Mallory Stewart disclosed this during a roundtable session with journalists in Abuja

Stewart said her bureau was aiming to design the principles of using AI in a manner consistent with international law, recognising inherent human bias and recognising that AI systems upon AI systems could lead to greater risks.

“Some of the important conversations we were able to talk about was how we can work to hear the Nigerian interest in a political declaration that the US government has been working with right now 55 other countries to agree upon the responsible uses of AI in the military context,”

“And so some of the important conversations we were able to talk about was how we can work to hear the Nigerian interest in a political declaration that the US government has been working with right now 55 other countries, hopefully more, including some African nations, to agree upon the responsible uses of AI in the military context, right to sort of make sure we can get these 10 principles using AI in a manner consistent with international law, recognizing inherent human bias, recognizing that AI systems upon AI systems can lead sometimes to greater risks”

She added that the United States is working with Nigeria and the rest of the countries in Africa to address the drivers of instability on the continent and ensure that the situation does not degenerate.

The Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability (ADS) at the U.S. Department of State, Mallory Stewart While in Nigeria, she met with representatives from ECOWAS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, civil society and the National Security Adviser.