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:
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)
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 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 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 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 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
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
The Very Long Game
25 Case Studies on the Global State of Defense AI
Editors: Heiko Borchert, Torben Schütz, Joseph Verbovszky
Intelligent National Defense Amid Strategic Ambiguity?
Defense AI in Taiwan
Kitsch Liao 2024
Overcoming the Long Shadow of the Past
Defense AI in Japan
Motohiro Tsuchiya 2024
Caught Between Today and Tomorrow
Defence AI in Estonia
Tomas Jermalavičius 2023
Harnessing the Potential
Defense AI in Greece
Nikolaos Karampekios, Konstantinos Sakalis, and Iraklis Oikonomou 2023
A Winding Road Before Scaling-Up?
Defense AI in France
Kévin Martin and Lucie Liversain 2023
Cautious Data-Driven Evolution
Defense AI in Finland
Sami O. Järvinen 2023
Embracing the Organized Mess
Defense AI in Israel
Inbar Dolinko and Liran Antebi 2023
Master and Servant
Defense AI in Germany
Heiko Borchert, Torben Schütz, Joseph Verbovszky 2023
How AI Learns the Bundeswehr’s “Innere Führung”
Value-Based Engineering with IEEE7000™-2021
Yvonne Hofstetter and Joseph Verbovszky 2023
When the Teeth Eat the Tail
A Review of Canada’s Defence Artificial Intelligence
Robert C. Engen 2023
Enabling Technology of Future Warfare
Turkey’s Approach to Defense AI
Çağlar Kurç 2023
Wie KI Innere Führung lernt
Wertebasierte Technik mit IEEE7000™-2021
Yvonne Hofstetter 2022
Exploring the Benefits of a New Force Enabler
Defense AI in Italy
Andrea Gilli, Mauro Gilli, and Ivan Zaccagnini 2022
Bright Prospects –
Big Challenges
Defence AI in the United Kingdom
Kenneth Payne 2022
Free Jazz on the Battlefield
How GhostPlay’s AI Approach Enhances Air Defense
Heiko Borchert, Christian Brandlhuber, Armin Brandstetter, Gary S. Schaal 2022
Evolution not Revolution
Australia’s Defence AI Pathway
Peter Layton 2022
DAIO Study 21|01
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
Imprint
Defense AI Observatory
Prof. Dr. Gary Schaal
Chair of Political Theory
Helmut Schmidt University
Holstenhofweg 85, 22043 Hamburg
+49 40 6541 2776