Defence Minister Warns Military of AI Security Threats
Thailand's Defence Minister warned military officials that artificial intelligence poses serious security risks, including cyber attacks and unauthorized access to sensitive military data through AI tools like ChatGPT. He stressed the need
On September 3 at the Defence Ministry, Defence Minister General Adulyadej Bundharmachart addressed the rapid global advancement of digital technology and artificial intelligence, noting that while AI can support operations and data analysis for precise decision-making, it also presents new threats such as cyber attacks, information distortion from neighbouring countries, and detailed access to Thai security data.
"If someone searches ChatGPT to compare military capabilities between Thailand and neighbouring countries, they can find out what tank models we have, how many, what weapons we use—and eventually they might even know how many we've lost," General Adulyadej said. He stressed that educational institutions must develop personnel with skills suited to the future, where everyone must understand technology and be cautious of its misuse.
The Defence Minister emphasized that countering such threats requires cooperation between government, private sector, and citizens, with a focus on building cyber culture and knowledge to handle emerging threats. Organisations must safeguard information as it is a valuable resource—whoever obtains information controls the world.
General Adulyadej warned of specific scenarios: if military forces use AI-equipped drones to attack enemies, use FPV drones with facial recognition to lock onto targets such as Deputy Commander-in-Chief Chisanu Rodsiri, or scan vehicle registration numbers to deploy swarm drone attacks, such actions would create serious social concerns and potential losses.
He also cautioned that while social media communications currently maintain high public confidence in the Thai military, this trust is fragile in today's rapid communications environment. Any misconduct by service members could damage military credibility, and some organisations aim to undermine the armed forces' trustworthiness.
The Defence Minister concluded that while technology has both advantages and disadvantages, it cannot be rejected as doing so would prevent communication with younger generations. He urged participants to gain knowledge and apply it practically, emphasizing that technological literacy will determine whether AI is used to build a better future or create problems.
