Two of The Cove's key themes this year are Future Warfare and Ethical Decision Making. As such, we combined these two to serve as the topic for the 2024 Cove Challenge.

The 2024 Cove Challenge is now closed, thank you to all who participated. 

Find our Top 5 picks from both Officers/APS and Other Ranks here:

Top 5 - Other Ranks:

An Unmasked Enemy

 

Cultural Property Protection: Will Australia take up the Blue Shield?
'Cultural Property Protection: Will Australia take up the Blue Shield?' by CPL Sarah Adams - AAHU

 

Distances

 

Where do the winners draw the lines?

 

Artificial Ethics

 

Top 5 - Officers/APS:

BREAKING: Country X Dodges Accountability for Threatening Behaviour, Blames AI Algorithm

 

Thoughts of an AI weapons technician

 

What, not who

 

Who is responsible when autonomy is anonymous?

 

Back in the fight: the dilemma of artificial body parts in the new war
'Back in the fight: the dilemma of artificial body parts in the new war' by LT Henry Hack

 

The 2024 Cove Challenge

Using words, art, or video, present an ethical issue that will be relevant in the next war.

Submission Types

This year, we are accepting submission in 3 different categories

Written: Just like in previous years, you can provide a short written response of around 100 words that encapsulates your idea in narrative or first-person form.

Graphic: A picture is worth a thousand words, so you can submit a single image (photograph, digital art, painting, AI-prompt generated, hand-drawn/comic, etc) displaying your suggested issue or dilemma. It should stand on its own without accompanying text.

Video: For the first time, you can submit a piece of video content. Submit a live-action recording, animated video or similar showing a vignette demonstrating your ethical situation or implications. The video can have sound or no sound, and is to be a maximum 30 seconds. Entries in this category should demonstrate the point through the recording itself, not simply be a recording of you talking.

All entries must be your original work.

Submissions are to be made via our dedicated Cove Challenge 2024 Submission Portal

Ideas and Inspiration

Looking for some ideas to get you started? Here are some ethical dilemmas drawn from recent conflicts for you to consider:

  • Autonomous weapons systems
  • Use of Artificial Intelligence
  • Cyber warfare
  • Information warfare
  • Economic warfare
  • Psychological operations
  • Grey Zone Competition
  • Special operations
  • Private military contractors
  • Collateral damage

Requirements

All submissions should meet the requirements below:

  • Respond to the topic: Present an ethical issue that will be relevant in the next war.
  • Written submissions: between 50 and 100 words in length.
  • Artwork: One image (it can be digital art, a painting, a photo, or a photo of a sculpture - be creative!)
  • Video: up to 30 seconds in length and 250 MB in filesize.
  • The submission must be your original work, and you must attribute your name to the submission. If you make use of artificial intelligence (AI) in producing the artwork, the way in which you use AI needs to be acknowledged.
  • Submit your work to our dedicated Cove Challenge 2024 Submission Portal with the subject line '2024 Cove Challenge' and the title of your work.
  • Include your rank, name, and unit
  • Submissions close at 1700h AEST on 09 August 2024.

Prizes

The top five entries for both Other Ranks and Officers will received Cove collectible coins and exclusive Cove merchandise packs.