First Student-Diplomat Roundtable Held: “AI, War, and Ethics: Can Technology Be Neutral?”

The roundtable brought together representatives of the diplomatic corps, the security sector, the expert community, and student youth to discuss one of the most pressing challenges of our time — the impact of artificial intelligence on international security, the nature of armed conflicts, and the ethics of using new technologies.

The roundtable was moderated by the founder and director of the Ukrainian-Gulf Cooperation Platform, board member of the NGO “Diplomacy in Action,” Auryka Matvei, and the Chief Operations Officer of UGCP, head of the organization’s department and analytics for the Eastern Europe region of the NGO “Diplomacy in Action,” Daryna Chyzhova.

The roundtable’s honored guests included Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine Serhii Korsunskyi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine Roman Bezsmertnyi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Serbia Oleksandr Lytvynenko, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations Artem Kolotiuk, and academic advisor of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation Oleh Zayarnyi.

A distinctive feature of the first Student-Diplomat Roundtable was its format of moderated discussion, which involved not just the audience answering moderators’ questions, but the active engagement of young people in the discussion. Participants of the roundtable had the opportunity to ask diplomats and experts questions, clarify their own positions on contentious issues, comment on remarks they heard, and join the overall discussion.

This time the dialogue was two-way: the honored guests addressed counter-questions to the young participants, becoming interested in their views on the role of artificial intelligence in international security, the ethical aspects of using new technologies, and global regulation. This format made it possible to create a genuine space for cross-generational exchange of ideas, where students and young professionals stood not just as listeners, but as full participants in a professional discussion alongside experienced diplomats and experts.

The discussion was structured around seven key thematic blocks, each of which raised complex questions whose answers today form the center of international debates on the development of artificial intelligence.

The first question concerned the relevance of international regulation of autonomous weapons systems. Together with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine Serhii Korsunskyi, participants discussed whether the international community is ready to implement preventive restrictions on certain types of autonomous weapons. The discussion covered the issue of pre-emptive regulation of new technologies, the relationship between security and innovation, as well as the difficulty of achieving international consensus amid growing competition among states in the field of high technologies.

The second thematic block was devoted to the impact of military artificial intelligence on the international deterrence system. Together with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine Roman Bezsmertnyi, participants analyzed how the emergence of effective military AI systems could change the balance of power even before a conflict breaks out. Special attention was given to the risks of a new technological arms race, changes in states’ strategic calculations, and the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the stability of international order.

One of the most heated discussions concerned the accountability of tech companies amid modern conflicts. Participants raised the question of whether corporations developing artificial intelligence algorithms can distance themselves “from politics” if their technologies are used in military operations, information campaigns, or surveillance systems. The discussion touched on issues of corporate ethics, business accountability, and the role of the private sector in shaping a modern security environment.

The fourth block was devoted to the relationship between national security and human rights. Together with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Serbia Oleksandr Lytvynenko, participants discussed the possibility of using artificial intelligence for border monitoring, risk identification, and analysis of large data sets. Particular attention was given to potential threats to privacy, the risks of excessive surveillance, and the need to ensure democratic control over the use of such technologies.

The fifth thematic block touched on one of the most acute ethical challenges of our time — the right of autonomous systems to independently make decisions about the use of force. Together with academic advisor of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation Oleh Zayarnyi, participants analyzed whether a machine could take part in the decision-making process on which human life depends. Special attention was given to the principle of “meaningful human control,” which is increasingly discussed as one of the fundamental principles of international regulation of autonomous weapons.

The sixth question concerned the moral dimension of using artificial intelligence in the military sphere. Participants discussed whether AI can remain merely a neutral instrument in human hands, or whether its very integration into the decision-making process changes the nature of human responsibility. The discussion raised issues of ethics, trust in algorithms, and the impact of technology on the moral choices of military personnel, political leaders, and society as a whole.

The final thematic block was devoted to the use of artificial intelligence in military development and decision-making support. Together with the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN Artem Kolotiuk, participants considered the dilemma of human and algorithm interaction in combat conditions. The central question was: should a commander trust the recommendations of an artificial intelligence system if it demonstrates an extraordinarily high level of accuracy, and who bears responsibility in case of error — the human or the system.

Throughout the discussion, participants repeatedly returned to the roundtable’s main theme — whether technology can be neutral. Despite different approaches and views, most participants agreed that artificial intelligence does not exist outside political, legal, and ethical context. Precisely for this reason, its development requires not only technological innovations, but also effective mechanisms of international regulation that allow ensuring security, respecting human rights, and preserving human control over critically important decisions.

Thanks to the active participation of students and honored guests, the roundtable became not just a venue for discussing contemporary challenges, but also a space for cross-generational dialogue, exchange of experience, and the formation of new approaches to understanding the role of artificial intelligence in international relations and the security policy of the 21st century.