The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into war weapons

The Rise of AI in War: Power, Peril, and the Future of Conflict

By [Hisamullah Beg]

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool for civilian applications like education, healthcare, and business. It is now being integrated into military systems—changing the rules of warfare. From autonomous drones to intelligent surveillance, AI is reshaping the battlefield. But with these innovations come serious questions: Can machines be trusted to decide who lives and who dies? And are we ready for the ethical and legal dilemmas AI in war brings?

---

1. How Is AI Being Used in Warfare?

a. Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS)

AWS are systems that can select and engage targets without direct human control. These include drones that can loiter, identify targets, and fire autonomously. Some examples include loitering munitions like Israel’s Harpy or the U.S. military’s AI-guided drone projects (Horowitz, 2018).

b. Intelligence and Surveillance

AI analyzes data from satellites, reconnaissance drones, and sensors to identify threats. Systems like Project Maven have been used to enhance object detection in drone footage.

c. Smart Decision-Making Tools

AI is used in command centers to simulate battlefield scenarios, assist military strategy, and predict enemy movements using big data analytics.

d. Cyber Operations

AI-driven cybersecurity tools help detect and neutralize digital threats, and may be used in offensive cyberattacks targeting enemy networks or infrastructure.

e. Swarming Drones

Inspired by insect behavior, AI enables drones to fly in coordinated “swarms.” These systems can be used for surveillance, attack missions, or electronic jamming.

---

2. Ethical and Legal Dilemmas

Who Is Accountable?

If an autonomous weapon kills civilians, who is responsible—the programmer, the commanding officer, or no one at all?

Can AI Follow International Humanitarian Law?

International law requires distinguishing between combatants and civilians. AI systems may lack the nuanced judgment to make such distinctions in real-world conditions.

Should Machines Make Lethal Decisions?

Many ethicists argue that decisions involving human life should always remain under meaningful human control (Asaro, 2012).

Could AI Make War More Frequent?

The speed and automation of AI systems may reduce the threshold for starting conflict, leading to more frequent or less accountable uses of force.

---

3. The Global Response

United Nations Discussions

The UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) has hosted discussions on lethal autonomous weapons, though binding agreements remain elusive.

Campaigns for Regulation

Organizations such as the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots advocate for a preemptive ban on fully autonomous weapons before they become widespread.

National Positions Vary

• The U.S. and Russia support continued development under human oversight.
• Countries like Austria and Brazil have called for strict international bans.

---

4. The Road Ahead: What Should Be Done?

AI can make military operations faster, more precise, and potentially less harmful. However, this power must be matched by ethical restraint, international law, and clear accountability frameworks.

Key Recommendations:

• Establish international laws prohibiting fully autonomous lethal weapons.
• Maintain meaningful human control in all uses of force.
• Promote transparency and international cooperation in AI research and military use.

---

Conclusion

The integration of AI into warfare is not science fiction—it is today’s reality. While it offers strategic advantages, it also brings the risk of dehumanized, unaccountable violence. The world must act now to ensure that as machines become more powerful, our commitment to human dignity, rights, and peace remains stronger.

---

References

1. Asaro, P. (2012). On Banning Autonomous Weapon Systems: Human Rights, Automation, and the Dehumanization of Lethal Decision-Making. International Review of the Red Cross.
2. Horowitz, M.C. (2018). Artificial Intelligence, International Competition, and the Balance of Power. Texas National Security Review.
3. United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA). (2021). The Weaponization of Increasingly Autonomous Technologies: Artificial Intelligence.
4. Campaign to Stop Killer Robots. (2023). https://www.stopkillerrobots.org
5. Boulanin, V. & Verbruggen, M. (2017). Mapping the Development of Autonomy in Weapon Systems. SIPRI.