ADI Lunchtime Seminar: Algorithms, Avatars, and the Remaking of Warfare

ADI lunchtime seminars are relaxed, informal monthly discussions on current research projects and publications. Each session features a 20-30 minute talk followed by a Q&A.

Military data practices increasingly rely on a predictive epistemology, enabled and executed through a growing reliance on digitised warfare techniques, such as AI-powered predictive algorithms, human and signal intelligence, big data analytics, and visual and matching technologies. This paper sheds light on the deepening reliance on digitised warfare during armed conflicts and its potential impact on compliance with the law of armed conflict. For that purpose, I explore three elements within digitised warfare practices that challenge military decision-making: (i) techniques of digitised killings (including data analytics’ speed and volume); (ii) predictive epistemology in military knowledge production (including proof and verification); and (iii) cognitive and systemic bias in predictive warfare. I argue that together, these three elements generate more-than-human capabilities (faster, stronger, informed, anticipatory), while delivering less-than-human practices (lacking in common sense, ethical responsibility, and cognitive reflectiveness or introspection).

Shiri Krebs is a Professor of Law at Deakin University and the Director of the Centre for Law as Protection. She is also an affiliate scholar at the Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) and an Alexander von Humboldt Senior Research Fellow at Hamburg University.

Professor Krebs’ scholarship focuses on behavioural approaches to international law, biases and blind spots in predictive counterterrorism tools, and human-machine interaction in drone warfare. Her research on drone warfare and surveillance technologies is currently funded by several nationally and internationally competitive research grants, including from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Germany).

Her research has influenced policy in Australia and internationally and has earned her several research awards, including the David Caron Prize (American Society of International Law, 2021), the ‘Researcher of the Year’ Award (Australian Women in Law Awards, 2022), the Australian Legal Research Awards (finalist, Article/Chapter (ECR), 2022), and the Vice-Chancellor’s Researcher Award for Career Excellence (Deakin, 2022).

We strongly encourage in-person participation, but if you're unable to attend on-campus, you're welcome to join us online. .

Location

This seminar will be held at Deakin University's Burwood Campus in room C2.05.01

Also check out other Workshops in Nunawading, Contests in Nunawading.