OxTalks is Changing
OxTalks will soon be transitioning to Oxford Events (full details are available on the Staff Gateway). A two-week publishing freeze is expected in early Hilary to allow all events to be migrated to the new platform. During this period, you will not be able to submit or edit events on OxTalks. The exact freeze dates will be confirmed as soon as possible.
If you have any questions, please contact halo@digital.ox.ac.uk
Panel Discussion: Perspectives on Automation in Defence
This panel examines how automation is reshaping defence strategy, operations, and decision-making at the highest levels. As autonomous systems, AI-enabled analytics, and machine-assisted command functions mature, defence institutions are confronting fundamental questions about force design, risk tolerance, and human control. The discussion frames automation not merely as a technical capability, but as a strategic shift with implications for how military power is generated, governed, and employed.
Bringing together perspectives from senior defence leadership, frontier defence technology development, and strategic investment in national security innovation, the panel explores the operational and political consequences of automation in defence. Particular attention is paid to alliance interoperability, escalation dynamics, and the governance of automated systems under real-world conditions. The conversation highlights how automation may accelerate decision cycles, widen capability gaps, and challenge established norms of command and accountability—underscoring the need for strategic adaptation at both institutional and international levels.
Date:
3 March 2026, 17:30
Venue:
Venue to be announced
Speaker: Various Speakers
Organiser:
Zachary Turinsky (University of Oxford)
Part of:
Emerging Threats & Technology Working Group
Booking required?:
Required
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Christopher Morris
