On 10th October 2024, James Cartlidge, Conservative MP for South Suffolk, asked the Secretary of State for Defence about the role artificial intelligence (AI) has played in the Strategic Defence Review.

According to Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Defence, AI has been instrumental in assisting the team by processing and analysing over 8,000 responses, comprising more than 2.2 million words.

“AI is helping the Strategic Defence Review team comprehend and analyse over 8,000 responses across the propositions, totalling over 2.2 million words. This is enhancing the review team’s ability to focus on complex tasks, such as applying robust challenge to submissions through Panel Sessions during October and November.

AI is not a replacement for human judgment, but an enabler of greater efficiency and one part of facilitating a more comprehensive Review Process. Decisions on drafting are solely made by the reviewers: Lord George Robertson, General Sir Richard Barrons and Dr Fiona Hill.”

In another question posed on the same day by James Cartlidge, he inquired about the number of submissions received for the Strategic Defence Review. Luke Pollard responded that the review had received input from over 1,700 individuals and organisations, which resulted in more than 8,000 answers across 23 propositions.

“Over 1,700 individuals and organisations responded providing over 8,000 answers across 23 Propositions. Respondents included Serving and retired members of the Armed Forces, the defence industry, the public, academics, Parliamentary colleagues, and our closest allies and partners, including NATO.”

Regarding the new defence review, the Government said previously:

“The Strategic Defence Review was launched by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad for decades to come. The review will put personnel at the heart of our future defence, strengthen our homeland security and ensure the UK continues to lead in NATO.

The review will utilise views from experts including military personnel, industry and academics. Defence Secretary John Healey will oversee the review, and the defence review team will be supported by a secretariat from the Ministry of Defence.”

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Paul.P
Paul.P (@guest_863061)
3 hours ago

If Chatgpt wrote the defence review would we be able to tell?

Andy reeves
Andy reeves (@guest_863115)
45 minutes ago
Reply to  Paul.P

I’d be more than happy to see those Collins boats transferred to us sat in exchange for the last Trafalgar SSN. six for one would be a good deal and deals are what we need to do if we are serious about growth of the navy. the Collins in their last refits were expected to operate into the 2930s. they’d be a reasonable stopgap between astutes and the replacement class.

Andrew
Andrew (@guest_863143)
43 seconds ago
Reply to  Andy reeves

The Collins class were supposed to be decommissioning now after their 30 years of service…but due to politics, that plan was scuppered…

Ian M
Ian M (@guest_863067)
2 hours ago

There’s a joke in there somewhere:

Artificial

Intelligence

Ministers

grizzler
grizzler (@guest_863098)
1 hour ago
Reply to  Ian M

🙂

Andy reeves
Andy reeves (@guest_863116)
45 minutes ago
Reply to  Ian M

😁👍👍W⚓RS

Bloke down the pub
Bloke down the pub (@guest_863088)
2 hours ago

I’m surprised at the number of respondents.

grizzler
grizzler (@guest_863097)
1 hour ago

So 1,700 respondents over a period of time .
With the right administrative infrastructure inplace and suitably knowledgable staff to review what is supposedly such an important subject that could surely easily have been handled by the old fashioned methods- no need to be artificially clever and use AI.
What a load of bolox…is my considered un-artificial and (perhaps) un-intelligent but succinct response.

Ian M
Ian M (@guest_863104)
1 hour ago
Reply to  grizzler

👍