Part 6 – Implications for Defence
Summary
Part 6 has deliberately weighted discussion towards opportunities of human
augmentation. The rate at which human augmentation and related technologies develop
in the future remains uncertain and there is a tendency to exaggerate the potential.
Notwithstanding these cautionary points, the possibilities described in this publication are
grounded in today’s proven science. Human augmentation is not a panacea, but it will
be a critical binding agent that marries the capabilities of machines with the creativity and
adaptability of people. It will affect nearly every aspect of society and, in turn, the way in
which Defence protects and furthers national interests. Successfully exploiting human
augmentation will require Defence, and society, to face up to uncomfortable ethical and
legal dilemmas. So far, Defence organisations in liberal democracies have adopted a ‘wait
and see’ approach, choosing to let ethical debate and technical developments play out.
This passive stance will cede momentum to our adversaries and cause Defence to miss
opportunities to improve the well-being and effectiveness of our Armed Forces.Human augmentation possible benefits for Service personnelPhysical performance- Increased strength, speed and endurance
- Enhanced sensory functions and range
Psychological performance- Improved attention, vigilance and memory
- Increased perception and situational
awareness - Enhanced decision-making
- More efficient learning
Social performance- Improved communication
- Better group cohesion – stronger units
Health and combat readiness- Improved health and well-being
- Fast recovery from injuries and wounds
- Enhanced resilience and perseverance
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At the core of future military advantage will be effective integration of
humans, artificial intelligence and robotics into warfighting systems- human-machine teams – that exploit the capabilities of people and
technologies to outperform our opponents.
Joint Concept Note 1/18, Human-Machine Teaming