2021 Perry Group Papers

Striking Blind uses fiction to consider the opportunities and challenges of military Artificial Intelligence (AI) and autonomous systems. Set in 2040, it describes the ADF’s use of MANDELA, the Machine Analysis Decision Learning Algorithm, a US-manufactured intelligence fusion, analysis and decision support tool inspired by AI systems currently in development.

The Fence was written by Team Consu to explore Defence’s potential utilisation of the information and cyber domains in 2040, highlighting some of the key opportunities and threats.

This story seeks to highlight the effect that climate change is likely to have on people and how it has the potential to create harm in society that is comparable to the effects of war.

Space in 2040 will be congested, contested and increasingly vulnerable to interference. Defence, as part of a Whole-of-Government effort, will need to have the capacity to protect critical space infrastructure and the ability to respond rapidly to potential adversarial actions. This requires prioritisation of space control and awareness technology over heavy launch capabilities, networked global partnerships, a specialist civ-mil-industry workforce, integration of AI, and shortened decision-making cycles in a crisis—all enabled by clear C2 structures.