The Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) hosted the “Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of Military Operations and Education” workshop on 18-19 February 2025. This event aimed to explore the transformative potential of AI in military operations and education, bringing together experts and practitioners from various fields to share insights and discuss future trends.

The workshop kicked off with BG Alvydas Šiuparis, Commandant of BALTDEFCOL, delivering the opening remarks, followed by CAPT USN (ret) William Combes, Director of the Department of Leadership and Management Studies, outlining the purpose and objectives of the workshop.

Throughout the event, participants engaged in sessions that included presentations on AI trends and expectations for Professional Military Education (PME) institutions, visions of AI trends in defence by Mr Mikk Raud from Estonian, Mr Andris Indriksons from Latvian, and MAJ Rolandas Bukantas from Lithuanian Ministries of Defence, and discussions on hybrid threats and future trends in AI. The speakers also included Mr Konstantin Bellini from the Hybrid CoE, LTC Inguna Bubuce and Ralfs Raitis Vecmanis from the STRATCOM CoE.

The workshop also featured presentations on AI in decision-making by LTC Peter Bovet Emanuel from the Swedish Defence University and explored how AI can improve military decision-making processes, support strategic decision-making, and enhance military exercises and simulations.

Dr Illimar Ploom recapped the debates and conclusions from the previous day on the second day. The morning session included presentations on NATO's vision of AI in decision-making and education, with insights from Dr Henrik Heidenkamp of SHAPE, MAJ Radu Balanescu from ACT, and Mr Kristjan-Julius Laak from the University of Tartu. The focus then shifted to examples of AI usage in education, with contributions from CAPT (N (ret)) William Combes, Prof Marko Höyhtyä and LTC Petteri Hemminki from the Finnish National Defence University, Mr Ott Maidre from the Estonian Military Academy, MAJ Dainius Judžentis from the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, and MAJ Allan Nielsen from the Royal Danish Academy.

The final workshop session addressed AI applications in PME and staff work, opportunities and challenges of AI use in PMEs, and future educational goals for AI integration. The event concluded with a presentation of the workshop findings, a joint discussion, and final remarks summarising AI integration recommendations for future use.

This workshop was insightful and engaging, fostering collaboration and innovation in AI and its application in military operations and education.