The proceedings of the International “ATHENA 2025” Conference, entitled “Armed Conflicts and Crisis Management in the Era of Artificial Intelligence”, were successfully completed on Friday, 23 May 2025, at the Auditorium of the Hellenic Army Academy, in Athens.
The conference provided a substantive forum for an exchange of views on the operational and ethical dimensions of Artificial Intelligence applications in the fields of defence and security.
The issues that were elaborated, from the geopolitical implications of Artificial Intelligence to the challenges related to its use in the operational field and the compliance with ethical values and legal constraints, pointed out the complexity, but also the imperative need to develop a responsible and internationally coordinated policy for its responsible use.
In particular, all sessions highlighted the potential offered by Artificial Intelligence to enhance defence capabilities and protect civilians and civilian objects more effectively, as well as the multidimensional challenges arising in relation to accountability and compliance with the principles of International Humanitarian Law.
Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of transparency, the ethical use of technologies, and the preservation of the human factor in critical decisions in the use of lethal force.
The risks stemming from the malicious use of Artificial Intelligence, such as disinformation and cyberattacks, as well as the critical role of the defence industry in the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, were equally discussed.
