The question raised by artificial intelligence in warfare is not only whether machines can fight faster than humans. It is whether political leaders can still think slowly enough to control them.
That question is becoming harder to avoid. AI is already being integrated into military planning, intelligence analysis, image recognition, targeting support, logistics, cyber defense and unmanned systems. NATO’s revised artificial intelligence strategy, released in July 2024, explicitly refers to generative AI, responsible use, interoperability among allies and the dangers of AI-enabled disinformation and information operations.
The conflict in Ukraine has made these issues more concrete. Drones, electronic warfare, satellite imagery, battlefield software and rapid technological adaptation have become part of the daily reality of war. The Center for Strategic and International Studies has described Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine as having accelerated the integration of emerging technologies, particularly unmanned systems, into military operations.
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