Source: Asian Military Review

Japan’s Ministry of Defense has released new guidelines for incorporating artificial intelligence into defense equipment, marking a significant step toward responsible military AI use. The framework sets standards for safety, accountability, and ethical oversight, ensuring that AI systems are deployed in line with international norms and national security interests.

The guidelines focus on transparency in AI decision-making, robust risk assessment, and preventing unintended harm or autonomous actions without human oversight. Japan’s approach emphasizes human control over lethal decision-making, accountability for system failures, and mechanisms for post-deployment review.

The move reflects Japan’s commitment to balancing innovation in defense technology with the ethical and legal challenges posed by autonomous weapons. The country aims to set an example in the Asia-Pacific region for responsible AI deployment in military applications and reinforce global norms on the use of advanced defense technologies.