South Korea hosted an international summit on Monday aimed at creating a framework for the ethical application of artificial intelligence (AI) in military operations, although any resulting agreement is anticipated to lack enforceable authority.

Representatives from over 90 nations, including the United States and China, attended the two-day summit in Seoul, marking the second such event.

The inaugural summit took place in Amsterdam last year, where the United States, China, and other countries issued a modest "call to action" without any legal obligations.

In his opening remarks, South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun referenced the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, stating, "Recently, in the Russia-Ukraine war, an AI-applied Ukrainian drone functioned as David's slingshot."

He highlighted Ukraine's use of AI-driven drones to gain a technological advantage over Russia, aiming to counteract signal jamming and facilitate the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in larger formations.

Kim noted, "As AI is integrated into military operations, the capabilities of armed forces are significantly enhanced. However, it is a double-edged sword, as misuse can lead to severe consequences."

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul indicated that the discussions would address legal frameworks to ensure adherence to international law and mechanisms to prevent autonomous weapons from making critical life-and-death decisions without necessary human intervention.

The Seoul summit aims to establish a blueprint for action that sets a baseline for safeguards regarding military AI and proposes responsible usage principles, drawing from guidelines established by NATO, the U.S., and several other nations, according to a senior South Korean official.

It was unclear how many nations attending the summit would endorse the document on Tuesday, which is aiming to be a more detailed attempt to set boundaries on AI use in the military, but still likely lack legal commitments.

The summit represents just one of several international forums addressing the application of AI in military contexts.

Countries that are part of the U.N. 1983 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) are currently engaged in discussions regarding possible limitations on lethal autonomous weapon systems to ensure adherence to international humanitarian law.

Additionally, last year, the U.S. government initiated a declaration focused on the responsible deployment of AI in military operations, which encompasses a wider range of military applications beyond just weaponry. As of August, this declaration has received support from 55 nations.

The Seoul summit, co-organized by the Netherlands, Singapore, Kenya, and the United Kingdom, seeks to facilitate ongoing discussions among various stakeholders in a domain where technological advancements are largely influenced by the private sector, while governmental bodies hold the primary authority in decision-making.

Approximately 2,000 participants from around the world have registered for the summit, including representatives from international organizations, academia, and the private sector, to engage in discussions on issues such as civilian protection and the role of AI in managing nuclear weapons.