As part of the General Staff Military Education and Training (GŠ VIU), the Artificial Intelligence module was conducted for the first time in the 11th class, aimed at understanding its strategic importance in the modern defense environment.
It represents an important step in integrating new technologies into the highest levels of military education and opens up space for the systematic development of competencies that will decisively influence the command, operations, and resilience of the Slovenian Armed Forces in the future.
The education was designed as a combination of theoretical lectures, discussions, and participants’ independent analytical work. In the introductory part, the fundamental content of artificial intelligence was presented, including the basics of machine learning, generative models, and the distinction between automation, decision support, and autonomous systems. Special emphasis was placed on what artificial intelligence means for the military system, how it is used within the NATO alliance, and what opportunities and limitations it brings in the defense environment.
From a technological tool to a strategic issue
The module significantly broadened the understanding of artificial intelligence as a broad concept that goes beyond the mere use of individual tools and includes infrastructural, organizational, and strategic dimensions. In discussions, it was repeatedly emphasized that artificial intelligence is no longer just the future, but a reality that is already shaping the modern security environment. Significant attention was also devoted to the legal, ethical, and security issues that accompany the introduction of artificial intelligence into defense systems, including accountability in the use of algorithms, risks of bias, and the issue of oversight of technologies that are becoming increasingly complex and often operate as “black box” systems.
At the same time, it became clear that the development of artificial intelligence is progressing faster than regulation, creating gaps in the areas of law, ethics, and security standards. The module therefore contributed to shaping critical thinking and awareness that introducing artificial intelligence is not only a technical challenge, but also a matter of sovereignty, accountability, and information protection. The issue of digital sovereignty was also specifically raised: using foreign solutions without one’s own infrastructure poses a risk of knowledge, data, and the country’s strategic autonomy leaking. Therefore, the development of national capabilities in the field of artificial intelligence will be decisive for the safe and effective use of the technology in the defense sector.
Artificial intelligence as a core competency of future leaders
The concluding discussion revealed a broader strategic dimension: in the future, artificial intelligence will become a core competency at all levels of leadership. The need was emphasized that knowledge in this field should not be limited only to the General Staff level, but should gradually be transferred into lower-level military education programs as well.
The Artificial Intelligence module at the General Staff VIU thus represents an important milestone in the development of military education in the Slovenian Armed Forces. It provided participants with a foundational understanding of the technology, opened discussion on key dilemmas, and encouraged thinking about concrete possibilities for using artificial intelligence in the defense system. Artificial intelligence will not replace commanders, but it will decisively change the way commanders of the future understand information, make decisions, and manage the complexity of the modern battlefield. That is why timely investment in knowledge, security, and strategic development in this field is essential for the future resilience and effectiveness of the Slovenian Armed Forces.
