Frankfurt: TRENDS Research and Advisory, through its virtual office in Germany, hosted a symposium titled ‘The Role of AI in Security: Balancing Technological Limits and Human Responsibility’ on the sidelines of its participation at the 77th Frankfurt International Book Fair 2025. The event brought together experts and specialists in security, defence, intelligence, and counterterrorism to discuss how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping global security and the ethical responsibilities that accompany its use.
According to Emirates News Agency, Dr Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS, opened the session by highlighting AI’s integral role in national and international security. He noted its applications in areas such as counterterrorism, cybersecurity, surveillance, border control, and military strategy. However, he also warned of the new risks introduced by the rapid spread of AI technologies, including manipulation of systems, algorithmic bias, privacy breaches, and overreliance on automation. Dr Al-Ali emphasized the importance of AI assisting in critical decision-making rather than replacing human judgment. He called for international cooperation, ethical frameworks, and policy development to govern AI in security contexts.
Yan St-Pierre, CEO of the Modern Security Consulting Group MOSECON, pointed out AI’s dual role in both combating and enabling terrorism. He mentioned that extremist groups exploit AI for propaganda, cyberattacks, and operational planning. St-Pierre stressed the necessity of human oversight to prevent misuse and ensure accountability.
Mustafa Al-Ammar, member of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), addressed the dangers posed by deepfakes and digital disinformation. He advocated for unified European standards in cyber defence and stronger collaboration between security entities to balance privacy and security.
Dr Jassim Mohamed, Head of the European Centre for Counterterrorism and Intelligence Studies (ECCI), discussed AI’s capability to accelerate data analysis and threat detection. He argued that AI cannot replace human ethical reasoning and called for stricter oversight, continuous training, and international legal frameworks to ensure AI use aligns with democratic values.
The symposium concluded that while AI enhances security capabilities, human responsibility, transparency, and ethical governance remain indispensable to safeguard stability and global trust.