Organised by the Working Group on Artificial Intelligence (WG AI) of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania (Seimas), the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania, the INFOBALT Association, Mykolas Romeris University and the Artificial Intelligence Association of Lithuania, the event brought together influential representatives from science, business, politics and the defence sector to discuss how advanced technologies can transform the country's defence sector.

 

During the conference, practitioners and experts discussed how AI can fundamentally transform defence systems, enabling faster and more accurate identification of threats and more efficient use of available resources. AI technologies enable the real-time analysis of huge data streams, which not only helps to predict threats more accurately, but also to plan military operations more effectively.

 

Rima Malakauskienė, chief specialist at the National Security Group of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, who conveyed President Gitanas Nausėda's congratulatory remarks, stressed that AI can significantly strengthen the country's defence capabilities, especially when it comes to finding solutions in a fight against a much stronger opponent, but also warned of the need for a responsible assessment of the capabilities and limits of this technology.

 

She stressed that the President welcomes the debate on the use of AI technologies in defence, and that the development of intelligence-based products is the way forward for Lithuania, but urges a careful analysis not only of the benefits, but also of the potential risks related to security and ethical issues, while at the same time keeping in mind the ultimate goal of preserving the nation.

 

 

 

Mantas Skaržinskas, Innovation Manager at the FTMC Innovation and Technology Office, also presented at the event. He stressed that while AI opens up enormous opportunities, especially in defence, the human factor remains critical in final decision-making. While AI technologies allow for the automation and acceleration of decision-making processes, only a human being is able to assess the importance of the decisions taken, the ethical aspects and the unusual situations that may be misinterpreted by AI.

 

M. Skaržinskas stressed that as "exchange of information now changes form", the issue of trust and the allocation of responsibilities between humans and the AI becomes more and more pressing. This means that while AI can provide highly accurate predictions and recommendations for decisions, there is always a risk that algorithms may make mistakes or make decisions based on insufficient data.

 

Based on the insights from the conference, the WG AI of the Seimas plans to initiate legislative improvements in the field of defence applications of AI. "Our goal is to ensure that Lithuania becomes a leader in the deployment of cutting-edge AI solutions in the field of defence, thereby strengthening our national security and competitiveness in the international arena," said Rasa Petrauskienė, Chair of the WG AI.

 

 

 

The event is said to be an exemplary result of close cooperation between the science, business, policy and defence sectors, promoting innovation and strengthening national security. It is hoped that the conference will be a catalyst for further discussions and concrete actions to integrate AI solutions into the Lithuanian defence system and to ensure the country's preparedness for future challenges.