Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen gave remarks as co-host Minister at the High-Level Luncheon and spoke at the Ministerial Roundtable of the 2nd Responsible AI in the Military Domain (REAIM) Summit in Seoul, Republic of Korea (ROK) on 10 September 2024. Over 60 countries including Singapore endorsed the REAIM ‘Blueprint for Action’, a key document with detailed recommendations arising from the REAIM process, and also sets out practical guidelines to implement AI responsibly.

Dr Ng announced Singapore’s endorsement of the REAIM ‘Blueprint for Action’ and said that the blueprint would be a useful avenue to build consensus on the way forward on international AI governance. He said, “Singapore endorses the ‘Blueprint for Action’, as it is aligned to our national and defence sector blueprint. We encourage all here to endorse the Blueprint. Only if we work together, can there be assurance that AI will improve and not harm our economies and people”. He added, “This Blueprint represents a step forward by providing us with action-oriented guidelines to implement responsible AI within our militaries, ensuring appropriate human decision making at crisis points.” 

Dr Ng noted that Singapore hosted the REAIM Regional Consultations (Asia) with the ROK and the Netherlands earlier in February 2024, where representatives from 15 countries discussed challenges associated with AI use in militaries and how to overcome them. He reiterated that international cooperation was key to achieving the goal of responsibly managing the development and use of AI. “The REAIM process has provided this timely and needed platform to decide on a consensus for governance of AI in the military domain. The goal is clear and laudable but the obstacles are aplenty. Particularly because all countries will want to maximise the application of AI to gain an edge over their adversaries… An AI governance framework is required to protect our humanity and global world.”

Dr Ng also met Netherlands Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans at the sidelines of the 2nd REAIM Summit.