NATO Boosts AI Capabilities to Counter Information Warfare
NATO is fortifying its strategic communication capabilities in the face of AI-driven information warfare. The alliance is setting up an AI Lab, with initial funding projected to reach €5.54 million in 2026 and €5.66 million annually thereafter. This investment aims to bolster the capabilities of NATO member states, partner countries, and NATO itself.
The AI Lab's creation follows the establishment of the NATO StratCom Centre of Excellence (COE) in Latvia in 2014. Initially founded by seven countries, it later expanded to include 12 more nations. While the COE has not publicly listed new member countries since 2014, the AI Lab will build upon its work.
Latvia, host of the StratCom COE, will contribute an additional €185,000 annually to the AI Lab, totalling €510,000 per year. The AI Lab's development will commence in 2023, with full operational capacity expected by the end of 2026. This project underscores NATO's commitment to staying ahead in the evolving landscape of modern information warfare.
The AI Lab's funding, drawn from the Ministry of Defence's existing budget, signals NATO's seriousness in countering AI influence in information warfare. With Latvia's support and the AI Lab's expected operational capacity by 2026, NATO is positioning itself to strengthen its strategic communication capabilities in the digital age.
