Emboldening the potential for AI collaboration across the Trilateral Security Dialogue
This project, funded as part of the Department of Defence Strategic Policy Grants Program, examines strategies for enhancing Australia's Artificial Intelligence (AI) capability development and defence cooperation with Japan and the United States under the Trilateral Security Dialogue (TSD) framework.
As Australian authorities seek to maximize AI development and cooperation, understanding how this can begin is a challenge in itself. How will each nation contribute to AI defence? What overlap and specialization exists? What important technologies, conceptual advances or differences define cooperation shortfalls? How can the trio work better to enhance deterrence and build resilience in AI value chains? These are some of the many questions this project seeks to address.
Researchers from RMIT University, including Prof Aiden Warren, Prof Charlie Hunt, Prof Matthew Warren, Dr Adam Bartley and Mark Manantan, have and will continue to host a series of Trilateral AI Experts Group Dialogues that will contribute to the development of a policy framework that addresses Australia's AI needs through various lines of policy, legal institutions, cultures, and vocabularies.
In July 2024 the Research team launched the final report into Developing an AI Capability Framework for the Trilateral Security Dialogue; USA, Australia and Japan at the Embassy of Australia in Washington DC. Supported by the Defence Australia's Strategic Policy Grants Program, the report presents the TSD AI capability framework to consolidate existing policies and initiatives and establish a common approach to AI development and innovation among the three countries. Building on internationally agreed principles and best practices, the AI capability framework advances four key elements: Innovation, Ethics, Interoperability, and Security.
Japan's technological capabilities, strategic alignment, regional security concerns, and shared values make it a natural partner for Australia and the US in defence technology, particularly in the field of AI. As part of the third dialogue which took place in Tokyo, the discussions focussed around the potential for AI defence cooperation with Japan and the role the Defence Trade Cooperation Treaties (DTCT) can play in improving AI collaboration, particularly in dual-use domains.
The second Trilateral AI Experts Group dialogue was held in Melbourne, Australia, to examine the challenges of Artificial Intelligence development, security, ethics, and interoperability in an Australian context.
Hosted in partnership with the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, the Washington D.C. dialogue consisted of consultations with over 40 stakeholders from defence, diplomatic, intelligence, and policy communities. Insights from the dialogue revealed a strong appetite for enhancing AI cooperation.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.