Japan weighs rewrite of its military AI policy

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told lawmakers on October 19 that the military’s basic artificial intelligence policy should be reviewed because technological development has overtaken guidelines adopted in July 2024. The existing policy covers seven application areas, including target identification, intelligence analysis, command and control, logistics, unmanned systems, cybersecurity and administrative efficiency. It requires human involvement in the use of AI and rejects equipment prohibited by domestic or international law. The minister raised the question of how far autonomous decision-making should be permitted but did not announce specific regulatory changes, a revised policy text or a completion date.