Who Builds the War Machine?

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems emerge on today’s battlefields, private industry actors are playing an increasingly influential role in how militaries wage war. This expert panel will examine how governance can safeguard legal protections and accountability under international law when private actors develop and support military AI across its lifecycle.

Companies contribute to military technology in several ways. They develop artificial intelligence tools that support military decisions, provide cloud computing and platform services, and may work alongside armed forces. Investment and partnerships between companies and governments can also influence which systems are developed and how militaries use them.

These relationships matter because design and support choices can affect how a system performs in practice. They can also shape who can access it, how much a military depends on a supplier, and what information is available to people making operational decisions. These questions become especially important when systems are used in armed conflict.

International law sets rules for how parties conduct hostilities and requires them to protect civilians and others who are not fighting. The panel will consider how those rules can be upheld when private actors contribute to military systems across their lifecycle, from development and testing to deployment and use. It will also explore how governance can support responsibility and accountability when governments rely on companies to develop or support military systems.