EU White Paper on defence lists AI and drones among priority capability gaps
The European Commission and the High Representative published the White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 alongside the ReArm Europe plan, which aims to unlock up to €800bn of extra defence spending, including €150bn of SAFE loans to member states. 'Cyber, AI and electronic warfare' and 'drones and counter-drone systems' are two of the nine capability areas singled out for joint investment. The EU AI Act does not cover these uses: Article 2(3) excludes AI systems used exclusively for military, defence or national-security purposes.
Why it matters
EU money is flowing into military AI while the bloc's main AI law expressly stops at the barracks gate, so defence AI in Europe is governed by procurement terms and national rules rather than the AI Act.
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What happened next
Later developments on the same thread
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Same story elsewhere
What other countries and bodies did on this
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Rules in play
Laws and guidance this touches
- RuleEU AI ActEU · Partly in force · 13 Jun 2024
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