JERUSALEM (VINnews) — IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Monday the military has a responsibility to become a global leader in artificial intelligence and robotics as the nature of warfare changes rapidly.

Speaking at a conference on integrating AI into military operations, Zamir described artificial intelligence as a revolution reshaping the 21st century. He said the battlefield has undergone one of the fastest, deepest and most dramatic transformations in military history in recent years, according to remarks published by the IDF.

“To meet the challenges of war and achieve victory, the IDF has a responsibility and an obligation to be a global leader in innovation and transformation, including in the adoption and integration of advanced artificial intelligence and robotics capabilities,” Zamir said.

He outlined an operational concept of integrated human-machine warfare. Under the approach, manned units would fight in coordination with unmanned systems to gain an operational advantage and superiority on the battlefield.

The conference took place at the IDF’s Communications and Cyber Defense Campus in Beersheba and was attended by members of the General Staff and brigade commanders. It comes as the IDF advances plans for a new Unmanned Systems and Artificial Intelligence Branch, which Zamir previously said is scheduled to be established by early December.

Zamir has emphasized that unmanned systems and AI will allow the military to increase operational activity while reducing risk to soldiers, with capabilities developed across land, air and sea domains.