ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE MILITARY FIELD: APPLICATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

By Francisco Ríos, Ph.D.

Military technology advancements, including robotics, AI, and drones are transforming warfare. Currently, AI can be used in surveillance, predictive analytics, and combat support among others. However, ethical concerns arise due to potential exploitation and manipulation of this technology in the military field. In this context, the development of AI could lead to geopolitical tensions and an arms race, increasing instability. Under this perspective, careful regulation and adherence to international humanitarian laws are crucial for responsible deployment.

Introduction

The world military expenditure increased in all five geographical regions, reaching $2443 billion in 2023, specially in countries like United States, China, Russia, India and Saudi Arabia, which together accounted for 61 per cent of world military spending (Tian, 2024). Therefore, the rise in spending is primarily due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In this regard, military expenses on technology are crucial for maintaining a modern and effective military force capable of meeting current and emerging security threats. Thus, U.S. military artificial intelligence (AI) spending nearly tripled from 2022 to 2023 (see Figure N°1).

Figure N°1. Contracts classified as AI-related if they had the term “artificial intelligence” or “AI” in the contract description (Time, 2024).

It is known that military technology has evolved significantly throughout history, with innovations and advancements changing the way wars are fought. Therefore, research on military applications in 4.0 technologies is part of countries’ competitive strategy, revealing benefits for developed countries, primarily in North America and Europe (Corzo Ussa et al., 2022). In this regard, while AI has begun crucial in 21st-century defense strategies, this is also affecting geopolitics todah. Thus, mastery of AI could lead to technological colonization in the next future, increasing dependencies (Arias, 2022). In this context, military technology continues to advance rapidly, with ongoing developments in areas like robotics, artificial intelligence, drones, shaping the future of warfare.

Currently, AI has the potential to play a significant role in improving soldiers’ capabilities in battles. In this regard, the development of AI has a profound impact on military development trends, leading to major changes in the forms and modes of war (Wang et al., 2020). For instance, since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, military drones have been used to identify Russian headquarters (Vásquez, 2023), while AI has reportedly been used to analyze different types of data to enhance decision-making and inform targeting, to process enemy communications, in facial recognition technology, and in cyber defense, to name a few (Konaev M., 2023). In this context, AI has had several implications in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict (Bendett, 2023) and AI-powered facial recognition software could also allow Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and journalists to identify Russian war criminals (Tokariuk O., 2023).

AI’s Military Applications

AI is disrupting the military field today. It has been reported in the literature this technology can be deployed in military operations in several ways. Experts predict a steady increase in the integration of Artificial Intelligence in military systems, although there is no consensus on a timeline for AI development ( Morgan et al., 2020). Nevertheless, AI is increasingly being used in military operations today due to its ability to process data more effectively and enhance combat systems’ self-control, regulation, and self-actuation (Rashid et al., 2023), including planning and supporting autonomous weapon systems and vehicles (Szabadföldi, 2021). In this context, acquiring surveillance and reconnaissance assets to enhance the defence capabilities will increase the amount of information collected, necessitating military intelligence capable of handling complexity. Thus, the need for AI technology to process military intelligence tasks becomes more urgent (Cho et al., 2020).

But, can the institutions of Defense successfully face the challenges posed by AI using only their own research and innovation resources? The answer is clear: an integration is needed between the needs of Defense, Industry and the solutions generated from the Academy (Quiñones, 2023).

Regarding the AI uses in the military field, the Figure N°2 shows some applications of artificial intelligence are being pursuing in the defense sector today. In this way, some of them involves the following issues:

• Surveillance and reconnaissance: AI-powered drones and satellites can provide real-time intelligence on enemy movements, allowing soldiers to make informed decisions regarding their own positioning and strategy.
• Decision-making support: AI algorithms can also assist commanders in making quick decisions by analyzing vast amounts of data, considering various factors, and generating actionable insights. This can greatly enhance situational awareness and enable faster response times.
• Combat Support: AI-powered machines and robotic systems can undertake dangerous tasks, such as explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), reducing the risk to human life. Additionally, these systems can also support risk activities such as rescue of wounded soldiers on the battlefield.
• Predictive Analytics: AI can analyze massive amounts of data, including intelligence reports, surveillance footage, and social media posts, to predict potential threats and identify patterns. This can assist military strategists in making informed decisions and preparing for various scenarios.
• Autonomous weapons systems: AI can be used to develop autonomous weapons platforms that can identify and engage targets without human intervention. These systems can significantly enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of military operations.
• Virtual training and simulations: AI can be utilized to create realistic virtual training environments and simulations to enhance soldiers’ skills and readiness. By simulating various battlefield scenarios, soldiers can train for different situations, improving their tactical abilities and decision-making under pressure.
• Logistics and supply chain management: AI-powered logistics systems can optimize the movement of troops, equipment, and supplies, ensuring efficient deployment and minimizing downtime.
• Cybersecurity and counterintelligence: AI algorithms can detect and respond to cyber threats in real-time, enhancing the cybersecurity of military networks and systems. In addition, AI-based counterintelligence methods can also help identify potential breaches and infiltrations by analyzing vast amounts of data and detecting anomalies.

Figure N°2. Aplications of artificial intelligence in the defense sector (Rashid et al., 2023).

AI’s Implications in the Military Field

Currently, there are several consequences about the use of AI in the military field. It is known the implications of AI in wars are complex and require ongoing dialogue and international cooperation to ensure responsible and accountable use. In this context, some of these consequences are the following:

• Increased efficiency and accuracy: AI can be utilized to automate various military tasks, leading to improved efficiency and accuracy in decision-making, targeting, strategic planning, and enhanced battlefield capabilities. This could result in faster and more effective military responses.
• Increased asymmetry: Advanced AI technology could amplify the divide between nations with access to AI capabilities and those without. This could lead to an imbalance of power, potentially exacerbating geopolitical tensions and conflicts.
• Escalation of arms race: The development and deployment of AI in warfare could lead to an increased arms race among nations. Each country may strive to outmatch each other’s AI capabilities, potentially leading to a higher risk of conflicts and instability.
• Vulnerability to exploitation: AI systems used in warfare could be vulnerable to exploitation, hacking, or manipulation by adversaries. This may pose a risk to national security and result in unpredictable consequences.
• Potential for unintended consequences: AI systems can make decisions based on algorithms and patterns, which may not always consider ethical or moral implications. There is a risk that AI-powered military operations could lead to unintended civilian casualties or collateral damage.

Ethical Considerations

Nevertheless, it’s important to note that while AI has the potential to revolutionize military operations, it also raises ethical considerations. In this way, the most complex global governance challenges surrounding AI today involve its application to defence and security (Momani et al., 2023). For instance, the use of autonomous weapons systems equipped with AI could potentially carry out actions without human control. The question of who is responsible for the actions of AI-powered weapons becomes complex, leading to debates on accountability and potential violations of human rights.

Currently, there are voices that say the development and use of AI in warfare should be guided by careful regulation and adherence to international humanitarian laws to ensure responsible and accountable deployment. In this way, The United States government is leading global efforts to build strong norms that will promote the responsible military use of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems (Vergun, 2023). Therefore, clear policies and guidelines must be developed and implemented in military education to address AI ethics concerns (Chávez, 2023). These should emphasize transparency, clarify AI contributions, prevent AI from being recognized as an author, and emphasize the responsibility for content originality on human authors. Thus, these policies must be integrated into military education to effectively control and regulate AI use.

Conclusion

Military technology has evolved significantly over time, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of military operations and improving soldiers’ capabilities in battles. In this way, the advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence and drones are shaping the future of warfare. Currently, AI can be deployed in various ways, including surveillance and reconnaissance, predictive analytics, autonomous weapons systems, decision-making support, combat support, virtual training and simulations, supply chain management, cybersecurity and counterintelligence among others.

However, ethical concerns arise due to autonomous weapons systems potentially carrying out actions without human control. The increased asymmetry between nations with AI capabilities could lead to geopolitical tensions and conflicts. Moreover, the development and deployment of AI in warfare could also lead to an arms race, increasing the risk of conflicts and instability. In addition, AI systems may be vulnerable to exploitation, hacking, or manipulation, and may not always consider ethical or moral implications, potentially causing unintended civilian casualties or collateral damage.

Under this perspective, careful regulation and adherence to international humanitarian laws are essential for responsible and accountable deployment of this technology.

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