Ukraine opens battlefield data to allies for training AI models and autonomous drone systems

Ukraine opens battlefield data access to allies' AI models

KYIV, March 12 (Reuters) - Ukraine is opening up access to its battlefield data for its allies to train drone AI software, the defence minister said on Thursday, as Kyiv seeks to harness the experience it has garnered fending off Russia's four-year, full-scale invasion. The move comes as militaries across the globe start to use automated systems which can guide drones to their targets without a pilot, or quickly analyse vast pools of data. Foreign allies and companies have sought access to Ukraine's datasets, as these are crucial for training models to ⁠recognise patterns, shapes, and the behaviour of people and machines on the battlefield. Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said a platform had been created to safely train AI models without giving away sensitive data, but which nevertheless provides constantly updating datasets and large quantities of photos and video footage. "Today, Ukraine has a unique array of battlefield data that is unmatched anywhere else in the world," he wrote on Telegram. "This includes millions of annotated images collected during tens of thousands of combat flights." Fedorov, a tech-savvy ally ⁠of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said Ukraine would benefit from speeding up the development of AI models which it can then use in its war against Russia. "We are ready to work with partners on joint analytics, model training, and the creation of new technological solutions," he said, adding ⁠that Ukraine wants to increase the role played by autonomous systems in the war. When he was appointed in January, Fedorov laid out his plans to conduct a broader data-driven overhaul of ⁠Ukraine's vast defence ministry. Ukraine is keen to maximise its advantage from the experience gained from Europe's largest conflict since 1945, as it strives to retain its allies' ⁠interest and funding in the fifth year of full-scale war. It has sent anti-drone specialists to four Middle Eastern nations this week after they requested Kyiv's help in downing Iran's vast barrages of Shahed UAVs. Reporting by Max Hunder Editing by Gareth Jones Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

Ukraine allows allies to train AI models on its battlefield data

Ukraine's four-year war with Russia has made it the world leader in battlefield drone technology. One byproduct of that is that the data it collects has become one of the country's most valuable assets. On Thursday, Ukraine played that card, saying it will begin sharing its battlefield data with allies to train drone AI software. "In modern warfare, we must defeat Russia in every technological cycle," Ukraine Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote on Telegram (translated from Ukrainian). "Artificial intelligence is one of the key areas of this competition." Fedorov previewed the move when he took his post in January. At the time, the tech-savvy cabinet member pledged to "more actively" bring allies into projects. Foreign allies and companies have sought access to the country's data as, for better or worse, AI increasingly becomes an integral element of warfare. Fedorov says Ukraine has a platform that will safely train partners' AI models without providing sensitive data. The system is said to provide continually updating datasets, including large volumes of photos and videos. "For us, this is the next step in the development of win-win cooperation," Fedorov wrote. "Partners get the opportunity to train their AI models on real data from modern warfare. And [for] Ukraine: faster development of autonomous systems and new technological solutions for the front." Last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned global leaders of a dangerous escalation tied to drone tech and AI. "We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history," he said at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in September. However, given the ugly realities in his country, Zelenskyy reiterated his need for armaments. "The only guarantee of security is friends and weapons," he said.

Ukraine to Make Drone Videos Available for Training AI Models

The Ukrainian military will make available millions of drone videos and other battlefield data to Ukrainian companies and the firms of its allies to help train artificial intelligence models, Ukraine's minister of defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, said in a statement on Thursday. Ukrainian drone videos have recorded attacks on soldiers, equipment such as vehicles and tanks and surveillance footage. These videos can be used to train A.I. models for automated targeting, according to experts on A.I. and warfare. Allowing the use of genuine battlefield videos showing drones targeting people has raised ethical concerns. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which monitors rules of warfare, has opposed automated targeting systems without human oversight. Mr. Fedorov said the data would be made available because "we must outperform Russia in every technological cycle" and "artificial intelligence is one of the key arenas of this competition." Ukraine has already used the data internally to train A.I. functions within its primary battlefield computer system, called Delta, the statement said. Under the new policy, companies can train A.I. models on the data, but will not be allowed to take possession of the videos. The data sets will be managed by a center for innovation within the Ministry of Defense.

Ukraine Opens Battlefield Data Access to Allies' AI Models

KYIV, March 12 (Reuters) - Ukraine is opening up ⁠access ⁠to its battlefield data for ⁠its allies to train drone AI software, the defence minister said on Thursday, as Kyiv seeks to harness the experience it has garnered fending off Russia's four-year, full-scale invasion. The move comes as militaries across the globe start to use automated systems which ⁠can guide ⁠drones to their targets without a pilot, or quickly analyse vast pools of data. Foreign allies and companies have sought access to Ukraine's datasets, as these are crucial for training models to recognise patterns, shapes, and the behaviour of people and machines on the battlefield. Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said a platform had been created to ⁠safely ⁠train AI models without ⁠giving away sensitive data, but which nevertheless provides constantly updating datasets and large quantities of photos and video footage. "Today, Ukraine ⁠has a unique array of battlefield data that is unmatched anywhere else in the world," he wrote on Telegram. "This includes millions of annotated images collected during tens of thousands of combat flights." Fedorov, a tech-savvy ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said Ukraine would ⁠benefit from speeding up the development of AI models which it can ⁠then use in its war against Russia. "We are ready to work with partners on joint analytics, model training, and the creation of new technological solutions," he said, adding that Ukraine wants to increase the role played by autonomous systems in the war. When he was appointed in January, Fedorov laid out his plans to conduct a broader data-driven overhaul of Ukraine's vast defence ministry. Ukraine is keen to maximise its advantage from the experience ⁠gained from Europe's largest conflict since 1945, as it strives to retain its allies' interest and funding in the fifth year of full-scale war. It has sent anti-drone specialists to four Middle Eastern nations this week after they requested Kyiv's help in downing Iran's vast barrages of Shahed UAVs. (Reporting by Max HunderEditing by Gareth Jones)

Ukraine opens battlefield data access to allies' AI models

Ukraine is sharing its battlefield data with allies to develop advanced drone AI. This initiative aims to leverage Ukraine's extensive combat experience against Russia. A secure platform allows for training AI models using millions of annotated images and video footage. Ukraine is opening up access to its battlefield data for its allies to train drone AI software, the defence minister said on Thursday, as Kyiv seeks to harness the experience it has garnered fending off Russia's four-year, full-scale invasion. The move comes as militaries across the globe start to use automated systems which can guide drones ⁠to ⁠their targets without a pilot, or quickly analyse vast pools of data. Foreign allies and companies have sought access to Ukraine's datasets, as these are crucial for training models to recognise patterns, shapes, and the behaviour of people and machines on the battlefield. Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said a platform had been created to safely train AI models without giving away sensitive data, ⁠but which nevertheless provides constantly updating datasets and large quantities of photos and video footage. "Today, Ukraine has a unique array of battlefield ⁠data that is unmatched anywhere else in the world," he wrote on Telegram. "This includes millions of annotated images collected during tens of thousands of combat flights." Fedorov, a tech-savvy ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said Ukraine would benefit from speeding up the development of AI models which it can then use in its war against Russia. "We are ready to work with partners on joint analytics, model training, and the creation of new technological solutions," he said, adding that Ukraine wants to increase the role played by autonomous systems in the war. When he was appointed ⁠in January, Fedorov laid out his plans to conduct a broader data-driven overhaul of Ukraine's vast defence ministry. Ukraine is keen to maximise its advantage from the experience gained from Europe's largest conflict since 1945, as it strives to retain its allies' interest and funding in the fifth year of full-scale war. It has sent anti-drone specialists to four Middle Eastern nations this week after they requested Kyiv's help in downing Iran's vast barrages of Shahed UAVs.

Ukraine opens battlefield data to train allies' AI systems

Ukraine has opened access to battlefield data for allied countries and companies to help train artificial intelligence systems used in drones, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on Thursday. The initiative allows partners to train AI models using large datasets collected during the war against Russia, including millions of annotated images and videos from combat drone missions. According to this news qwe just received, Kyiv hopes the collaboration will speed up the development of autonomous systems capable of identifying targets and analysing battlefield conditions. Today, Ukraine has a unique array of battlefield data that is unmatched anywhere else in the world. This includes millions of annotated images collected during tens of thousands of combat flights. We are ready ⁠to work with partners on joint analytics, model training, and the creation of new technological solutions. With the aim of countering enemy strike drones, platoons of drone interceptors are being created inside detachments of the Ukrainian armed forces.