The Future of War: Autonomy, AI, and Accountability in a New Era of Conflict
Discussion with AIES Director Michael Zinkanell
11.11.25 / Vienna
On 11 November, AIES and ÖGPW, together with club.DA, STK Powerhouse, and the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, hosted “The Future of War: Autonomy, AI, and Accountability in a New Era of Conflict” at the Diplomatische Akademie Wien.
The keynote address was delivered by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, followed by a high-level panel with Alex Fink (CEO & Co-Founder of Swarmer), Cezar Regia (Dual Use & Robotics Advisor, Intellias), Michael Zinkanell (Director, AIES) and Prof. John Williams (Durham University). The debate was moderated by Roger Hilton (GLOBSEC), and brought together voices from diplomacy, defence, academia, think tanks and the tech sector.
The discussion focused on three key areas:
AI, autonomy and the ethics of warfare
Speakers explored how artificial intelligence, drones and autonomous systems are transforming the conduct of war, compressing decision-making time and blurring traditional frontlines. Particular attention was given to the risks of dehumanisation, challenges to international humanitarian law (distinction, proportionality, accountability) and the urgent need for global rules on the military use of AI, comparable in importance to nuclear non-proliferation.
Innovation, dual-use technologies and defence ecosystems
Drawing on Ukraine’s experience, the panel highlighted how rapid, bottom-up innovation**,** from commercial drones to automotive and telecom technologies repurposed for defence, can dramatically shorten development cycles. At the same time, they stressed the importance of responsible use, avoiding vendor lock-in, and rethinking “red tape” so that procurement remains agile without undermining human rights and export control standards.
European security, hybrid threats and strategic adaptation
Against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, participants underlined that small and medium states, as well as the EU, must adapt to a world where cheap, smart systems (such as drones and AI-enabled platforms) can challenge traditional military balances. The role of drones in hybrid warfare, attacks on critical infrastructure and the transparency of the frontline was discussed as a wake-up call for Europe’s resilience, defence innovation and support for Ukraine.
The speakers agreed that the future of war will be defined by how we choose to govern emerging technologies: through strength, accountability and meaningful human control, or through their abuse by actors who reject international norms. Continued dialogue between diplomats, militaries, industry, academia and civil society was identified as essential to ensure that innovation serves security, not slaughter.
