We monitor and analyze the use of artificial intelligence by armed forces
About the Defense AI Observatory
The Defense AI Observatory (DAIO) at the Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg monitors and analyzes the use of artificial intelligence by armed forces. DAIO comprises three interrelated work streams:
- Culture, concept development, and organizational transformation in the context of military innovation
- Current and future conflict pictures, conflict dynamics, and operational experience, especially related to the use of emerging technologies
- Defense industrial dynamics with a particular focus on the impact of emerging technologies on the nature and character of techno-industrial ecosystems
DAIO is an integral element of GhostPlay, a capability and technology development project for concept-driven and AI-enhanced defense decision-making in support of fast-paced defense operations. GhostPlay is funded by the Center for Digital and Technology Research of the German Bundeswehr (dtec.bw)
Team
Prof. Dr. Gary Schaal
Prof. Dr. Gary Schaal is head of GhostPlay and co-leads the DAIO team. He holds the chair in political science, in particular political theory at the Helmut-Schmidt-University. He leads the research cluster on meta strategies at the German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies and an interdisciplinary research network on maritime security. He has studied political science, German philology, and philosophy at the FU Berlin.
X @SchaalGary
Dr. Heiko Borchert
Dr. Heiko Borchert is DAIO's co-director and runs a strategic affairs consulting boutique. He studied international relations, business administration, economics, and law at the University of St. Gallen, where he also got his Ph.D.
X @HeikoBorchert, @Defense_AIO
Bluesky @heikoborchert.bsky.social, @defenseaio.bsky.social
Niklas Masuhr
Niklas Masuhr is DAIO research fellow. Prior to this he held different positions at the Center for Security Studies, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and at the Institute for Security Policy at the University of Kiel (ISPK). He studied political science and strategic studies at the Universities of Mannheim and Reading (UK) and is currently working on his PhD at the Helmut-Schmidt-University.
Karl Hufnagl
Karl Hufnagl is DAIO research fellow. He graduated in interdisciplinary European studies from the University of Augsburg, has held different academic positions and worked for civil society organizations and companies. He is currently pursuing his PhD at the Helmut-Schmidt-University.
X @claudenwitz
Dr. Joseph Verbovszky
Dr. Joseph Verbovszky is DAIO research fellow and co-director of the German Wargaming Center (GWC). Before joining DAIO, he worked in the areas of international coordination and strategic analysis at different defense companies. He holds a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), graduated with a PhD from the University of the Bundeswehr München and is currently working on his Habilitation at the Helmut-Schmidt-University.
X @warkhorse
Bluesky @warkhorse.bsky.social
Publications
DAIO Study 24|26
His Hands Can’t Hit
What His Eyes Can’t See
Emergent AI Tactics for Successful Operations in the Air Littoral
Heiko Borchert and Christian Brandlhuber
Book
The Very Long Game
25 Case Studies on the Global State of Defense AI
Editors: Heiko Borchert, Torben Schütz, Joseph Verbovszky
DAIO Study 24|24
Intelligent National Defense Amid Strategic Ambiguity?
Defense AI in Taiwan
Kitsch Liao 2024
DAIO Study 24|23
Overcoming the Long Shadow of the Past
Defense AI in Japan
Motohiro Tsuchiya 2024
DAIO Study 23|20
Caught Between Today and Tomorrow
Defence AI in Estonia
Tomas Jermalavičius 2023
DAIO Study 23|19
Harnessing the Potential
Defense AI in Greece
Nikolaos Karampekios, Konstantinos Sakalis, and Iraklis Oikonomou 2023
DAIO Study 23|17
A Winding Road Before Scaling-Up?
Defense AI in France
Kévin Martin and Lucie Liversain 2023
DAIO Study 23|16
Cautious Data-Driven Evolution
Defense AI in Finland
Sami O. Järvinen 2023
DAIO Study 23|15
Embracing the Organized Mess
Defense AI in Israel
Inbar Dolinko and Liran Antebi 2023
DAIO Study 23|12
Master and Servant
Defense AI in Germany
Heiko Borchert, Torben Schütz, Joseph Verbovszky 2023
DAIO Study 23|10
How AI Learns the Bundeswehr’s “Innere Führung”
Value-Based Engineering with IEEE7000™-2021
Yvonne Hofstetter and Joseph Verbovszky 2023
DAIO Study 23|09
When the Teeth Eat the Tail
A Review of Canada’s Defence Artificial Intelligence
Robert C. Engen 2023
DAIO Study 23|08
Enabling Technology of Future Warfare
Turkey’s Approach to Defense AI
Çağlar Kurç 2023
DAIO Study 22|06
Wie KI Innere Führung lernt
Wertebasierte Technik mit IEEE7000™-2021
Yvonne Hofstetter 2022
DAIO Study 22|05
Exploring the Benefits of a New Force Enabler
Defense AI in Italy
Andrea Gilli, Mauro Gilli, and Ivan Zaccagnini 2022
DAIO Study 22|04
Bright Prospects –
Big Challenges
Defence AI in the United Kingdom
Kenneth Payne 2022
DAIO Study 22|03
Free Jazz on the Battlefield
How GhostPlay’s AI Approach Enhances Air Defense
Heiko Borchert, Christian Brandlhuber, Armin Brandstetter, Gary S. Schaal 2022
DAIO Study 22|02
Evolution not Revolution
Australia’s Defence AI Pathway
Peter Layton 2022
DAIO Study 21|01
Beware the Hype
What Military Conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, and Nagorno-Karabakh (Don’t) Tell Us About the Future of War
Heiko Borchert, Torben Schütz, Joseph Verbovszky
2021
External Publications
2022
- Heiko Borchert, Torben Schütz and Joseph Verbovszky, “'Unchain My Heart.' A Defense Industrial Policy Agenda for Germany's Zeitenwende“, Zeitschrift für Aussen- und Sicherheitspolitik, 15:4 (December 2022), pp. 429-451,
- Heiko Borchert and Torben Schütz, “Die neue Währung heisst Einsatzerfahrung,“ Tagesspiegel, 27 June 2022
- Heiko Borchert, Torben Schütz and Joseph Verbovszky, Adaptive Portfolio. Catalysing NATO’s Peformance Through Innovation (Bratislava: GLOBSEC, 2022)
- Becker, Sophia and Torben Schütz, “Reform oder Irrelevanz,” Internationale Politik, 77:1 (January 2022), p. 42-46
- Schütz, Torben, Joseph Verbovszky and Heiko Borchert, ”Beware of Potemkin: Germany's Defense Rethink Risks Reinforcing Old Habits“, War on the Rocks, 11. April 2022
2021
- Borchert, Heiko, John Allen and Marcin Zaborowski, ”Emerging technology, the geoeconomic Achilles' heel NATO needs to address,“ EurActiv, 13. December 2021.
- Borchert, Heiko, Torben Schütz and Joseph Verbovszky, ”War as a Service: Stop Overhyping Technology”, RSIS Commentary, 13. August 2021.
- Mölling, Christian, Florence Schimmel and Torben Schütz, The Role of Space as a Global Common Good for Critical Infrastructure and Industry. A Workshop Report (Berlin: DGAP, 2021).
- Verbovszky, Joseph, ”20 Jahre 9/11: Die Deutschen wollten keinen Krieg – und führten gerade deshalb einen“, Tagesspiegel, 7. September 2021.
- Verbovszky, Joseph and Torben Schütz, ”Deutschlands globales verteidigungspolitisches Wertschöpfungsnetzwerk“, Wehrtechnik II/2021 (Juni 2021), p. 12-14.
- Verbovskzy, Joseph and Philipp Mühl, ”'How dare you'. Die Zukunft der Verteidigungspolitik in Deutschland und Europa“, Cicero, 22. October 2021.
2020
- Becker, Sophia, Christian Mölling and Torben Schütz, Learning Together. UK-Germany Cooperation on Military Innovation and the Future of Warfare (London: King's College, 2020).
- Lehmhaus, Lorenz and Joseph Verbovszky, ”Technik und Verantwortung. Die Bundeswehr und das Ringen um den Weltraum”, Wehrtechnik V-VI/2020, p. 23-25.
- Lehmhaus, Lorenz and Joseph Verbovzsky, ”Verteidigung neu denken”, Wehrtechnik III-IV/2020, p. 10-11.
- Schütz, Torben, Revolutionary by Design. The US National Security State and Commercialization in the US Space Sector (Paris: French Institute of International Relations, 2020)
2019
- Borchert, Heiko and Christian Brandlhuber, ”Jump-Starting Europe's Work on Military Artificial Intelligence”, Defense News, 9. September 2019.
- Borchert, Heiko, ”Why Unmanned Systems are the Go-To Option for Gray Zone Ops in the Gulf”, Center for International Maritime Security, 6. August 2019.
- Borchert, Heiko, ”The Arab Gulf Defense Pivot: Defense Industrial Policy in a Changing Geostrategic Context”, Comparative Strategy 37:4 (Februar 2019), p. 299-315.
- Mölling, Christian, Torben Schütz and Zoe Stanley-Lockman, A New Dimension of Air-Based Threats. Germany, the EU and NATO Need New Political Initiatives and Military Defense Systems (Berlin: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, 2019).
- Schütz, Torben, Der vernetzte Krieg. Warum moderne Streitkräfte von elektronischer Kampfführung abhängen (Berlin: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, 2019).
Imprint
Defense AI Observatory
Prof. Dr. Gary Schaal
Chair of Political Theory
Helmut Schmidt University
Holstenhofweg 85, 22043 Hamburg
+49 40 6541 2776
