Synopsis

This presentation was a discussion on the growing interest in, and challenges with, Human-Machine Teaming (HMT). HMT promises adaptability, flexibility, and superior performance in military operations when humans are teamed with machine teammates. From discussions of “human autonomy teaming” or “manned unmanned teaming (MUM-T)", to even mere human-computer or human-robot interaction, however, the scoping of HMT is broad at best. To better clarify, shape and influence the debate and pursuit of HMT going forward, Dr Roff will suggest the need to identify clear definitions and boundaries for discussion, policy guidance, and technical challenges. This will enable us to identify the existing technical and non-technical challenges or gaps, and provide meaningful guidance to the wide variety of stakeholders, such as operational commanders, acquisitions experts, technical leads, and policy makers.

Presenter(s)

Dr Heather Roff

Dr Roff is a Fellow in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, and an Associate Research Fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence. Her research interests include the law, policy and ethics of emerging military technologies, such as autonomous weapons, artificial intelligence, robotics and cyber, as well as international security and human rights protection. Dr. Roff has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, authored the monograph Global Justice, Kant and the Responsibility to Protect, and written for media outlets. She was a Research Scientist at DeepMind in the Ethics and Society team, a Special Government Expert for the US Department of Defense - Defense Innovation Board, as well as a Fellow at the New American Foundation on the National Cybersecurity Initiative and Future of War Project.

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Dr Heather Roff
Dr Roff holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Colorado Boulder, a M.A. in Political Science from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and B.A. in Political Science and Classics from University of Arizona.

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