Chapter 7
AI's journey began in research and problem-solving, yet it's now also a pivotal tool in warfare, enhancing decision-making, targeting, and resource allocation, raising complex ethical, strategic, and political debates. As AI technologies enhance decision-making, targeting, and resource allocation in military contexts, they bring about advancements in defense capabilities but also introduce new dimensions of conflict and warfare.
This transition has sparked intense political discussions and debates, as nations grapple with the implications of AI in defense and warfare. These debates often revolve around issues of international security, the ethics of autonomous weapons systems, and the need for regulatory frameworks to govern the use of AI in military applications.
Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, the UN University's seventh Rector and UN Under-Secretary-General notes the significant impact of AI's militarization on global security and warfare. Whether in physical combat or cyber warfare, AI's integration “raise concerns regarding the escalation of conflicts, the possibility of autonomous weapons being compromised or misused and the possibility of an AI arms race.”
In physical warfare, AI-powered weapons, like drones or automated defense systems, can operate independently, identifying and engaging targets without human input. This raises ethical questions about accountability and the role of human judgment in combat decisions.
In the realm of information warfare, AI amplifies capabilities in cyber attacks and defense, data analysis, and psychological operations. AI can sift through vast data troves, identifying vulnerabilities or spreading misinformation, thus shaping public perception and influencing the strategic outcomes of conflicts.
