When Lieutenant Colonel Adam Hepworth was approached to join the Expert Advisory Group for the Global Commission on Responsible AI in the Military Domain (GC REAIM), it provided a unique opportunity for Army to have a seat at the table in global AI reform and governance. 

GC REAIM has now developed a world-first strategic guidance report, Responsible by Design, of which Lieutenant Colonel Hepworth helped shape as an appointed expert of the commission.

The core of the report is the idea that ethical and legal compliance must be integrated from the earliest stage of development, through the entire AI system lifecycle, as well as in the socio-technical institutions in which AI applications are embedded.

The report identifies short and long-term recommendations supporting fundamental norm development and policy coherence in militaries’ use of AI, covering governance and regulation, law, technology and implications for decision-making.

Lieutenant Colonel Hepworth, director of Army’s Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation and Coordination Office, is the first and only military-government representative from Australia appointed as a member of the Expert Advisory Group.

He was chosen for the commission because of his practical military experience with artificial intelligence, combined with a PhD in computer science, and more than a decade of academic effort and achievement in the field. 

He said the commission was a nucleus of world-leading minds and experience, and the Australian Army now had a central role in that ground-breaking work.

“The commission is shaping the future of AI in the military domain, and its mission aligns with the Australian Army's commitment to responsible AI use,” Lieutenant Colonel Hepworth said. 

'The gravity of this piece of work is not lost on me and it’s been a privilege to make contributions to the final recommendations through a military lens.'

Responsible use of AI already has a powerful role to play in Army, from autonomous systems that reduce risk to personnel, to decision-support tools that enhance combat agility. Trials across training areas are helping Army build ethical, resilient AI that supports soldiers, improves readiness and saves lives.

Director-General Future Land Warfare Brigadier James Davis said Lieutenant Colonel Hepworth’s involvement with GC REAIM reflected the global emphasis on AI development and applications. 

“Relationships with experts in responsible AI aligns Army with best practice governance and assurance," Brigadier Davis said.

“The Australian Army must expand its use of AI if it is not to be at a marked disadvantage. 

"Lieutenant Colonel Hepworth’s work in Army Headquarters and the Global Commission is focused on this outcome. More broadly, his appointment highlights the range of STEM opportunities available to Army personnel and underscores their contributions to global outcomes.” 

Lieutenant Colonel Hepworth said the strategic guidance report will play a key role in how AI is used in military environments. There has been a significant uptake of AI and it’s important to understand how it can be incorporated into the work Defence undertakes every day.

“The gravity of this piece of work is not lost on me and it’s been a privilege to make contributions to the final recommendations through a military lens,” Lieutenant Colonel Hepworth said.

“Technology and innovation are fields I’ve been passionate about since my schooling in Hobart, and I’m thankful that Defence has allowed me to apply this passion, and in doing so has enabled me to provide a meaningful contribution in return.”

For more information about career opportunities, visit www.adfcareers.gov.au