The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) is at risk of being left behind in the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI), a leading MP has warned. In a stark warning, Emma Lewell-Buck, Labour MP for South Shields and member of the Defence Committee, stressed that the MOD must integrate AI into its operations quickly, or risk ceding the advantage to adversaries already capitalising on the technology.
The Defence Committee’s latest report has highlighted the urgent need for the UK to embrace AI, citing its growing use on the battlefield in Ukraine as evidence of its military potential. According to the report, the MOD must act decisively to become “AI-native,” meaning fully integrating AI into both its technology and culture. Without this, MPs warned, the UK could find itself at a disadvantage as other nations develop and deploy the technology faster.
Lewell-Buck emphasised that AI is not just a passing trend, but a game-changing tool for modern warfare. “It should be that the whole organisation needs to move to that mindset… AI is just embedded through defence,” she told Forces News. She also warned that if the MOD fails to act, it risks allowing its adversaries to leap ahead in AI development, leaving the UK vulnerable.
The report paints a concerning picture, pointing out a disconnect between the MOD’s rhetoric on AI and the reality of its implementation. The MOD has been slow to embrace AI as a core tool in defence, with MPs criticising the department for treating it as a novelty rather than an essential component of future warfare.
Lewell-Buck went further, criticising the MOD’s Defence AI Centre, describing it as “a collection of people somewhere” rather than a coordinated, strategic body. The committee’s report calls for a more cohesive approach, recommending that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) take leadership of AI development across the military to avoid fragmented efforts between the different services.
With global threats evolving and technological advancements moving at lightning speed, the committee has stressed that the ongoing Strategic Defence Review represents a critical opportunity for the UK to act. It calls for a concerted effort to identify and address gaps in the UK’s AI capabilities, including the country’s digital infrastructure, data management, and AI skills base.
“We recommended it should be under the leadership of CDS because that would make perfect sense because it needs to be threaded through the whole organisation,” said Lewell-Buck. She further pointed out that each service head currently develops its own AI policy, but without a unified approach, there is a risk of inefficient, disconnected efforts.
The clock is ticking for the MOD. With AI playing an increasingly pivotal role in global military strategy, the UK must act swiftly to ensure it stays ahead of the curve.
