Despite producing advanced semiconductors, Taiwan's military faces institutional and technical challenges in adopting AI, which experts say could impact its defense capabilities.
Key facts
- •Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense established a Defense Innovation Office and an AI office in 2024.
- •The Taiwanese military has identified six primary barriers to AI adoption, including governance, data enterprise, and cybersecurity.
- •The military is currently staffed at approximately 80 percent of its total capacity.
- •Between 2023 and the present, Taiwanese military journals published nearly 50 articles on AI and nearly 90 on unmanned systems.
- •Experts warn that siloed development of AI systems could reduce their effectiveness in a potential conflict.
Taiwan is in the early stages of integrating artificial intelligence into its military, a shift deemed critical for deterring potential aggression from China. While the Ministry of National Defense has recently established new offices to oversee AI innovation, experts warn that significant institutional, infrastructural, and technical barriers remain. These challenges could complicate the island's ability to field effective AI-enabled systems and integrate them with potential coalition partners.
By the numbers
Governance and Infrastructure Challenges
Defense experts identify fragmented governance as a primary obstacle, noting that the military lacks a unified framework or common technical standards for AI. This risks duplicated investments and limited interoperability between branches. Additionally, the military faces deficits in digital infrastructure, including insufficient cloud storage, limited computing capacity, and inadequate network bandwidth in remote areas, which could hinder the deployment of reliable AI tools.
Data, Cybersecurity, and Talent Gaps
The military's data enterprise is described as underdeveloped, characterized by insufficient data volume, poor quality, and siloing across units. Cybersecurity also presents a conflict: while the military relies on air-gapping to prevent data leaks to China, these methods are often incompatible with the frequent updates required by AI software. Furthermore, the military faces a shortage of AI-trained personnel, with current efforts focused on training existing staff rather than attracting civilian experts.
Military-Civil Collaboration
Experts emphasize that Taiwan must improve collaboration between the military and the private sector to succeed in defense software innovation. While the Ministry of National Defense has recently established a Defense Innovation Office, historical ties between the military and private industry have been weak due to espionage concerns. Future progress depends on creating a coherent strategy that integrates government guidance with private sector capabilities.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by War on the Rocks.
