Servers Before Tanks? Defence AI in Denmark

As one of the most digitized societies in the world, Denmark has a unique opportunity as a small nation to contribute to and benefit from the evolving landscape and global technology competition on defence AI. However, due to persisting strategic cultures and procurement practices the Danish defence is characterized by a platform-centric approach to force development and investments in hardware rather than software. Consequently, Denmark is still at an early stage on the path to adopting defence AI. Recognizing the increasingly central role AI plays in the global technology competition and on current battlefields, it has thus become clear that Danish Defence needs a major technological boost to remain relevant for its allies. However, the question of how exactly the technological boost should be accomplished and implemented into the organization remains uncertain and uncoordinated. The purpose of this chapter is to look beyond the technicalities and provide an overview of the current development and use of military AI in Denmark from a broader sociotechnical point of view that questions the double ambition of the Danish Government to be an AI frontrunner while at the same time restricting these ambitions to matters relating to security politics and ethics of defence AI.