The weaponisation of artificial intelligence in modern warfare: Implications for global peace and security
Main Article Content
Abstract
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into military operations has significant implications for global stability. Understanding these implications is crucial for policymakers, researchers, and the international community. This study addresses the impact of AI-driven technologies on defence systems. It examines autonomous weapons, surveillance, and cyber warfare, highlighting the potential for an arms race. The main argument is that responsible AI deployment is essential for maintaining peace and security. The study is anchored on Deterrence theory. This study adopts qualitative research methods as a means of data collection which is secondary source based, and were merely obtained from textbooks, Journal articles, conference proceedings, Newspapers, and reliable internet materials. The data collected were analysed thematically. The study however revealed that AI enhances military capabilities while raising legal and ethical concerns. The study therefore recommends among others, the need for AI governance via international norms, and cooperation to prevent misuse.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This open-access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.
You are free to: Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms: Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
How to Cite
References
Abasilim, U. D; Gberevbie, D.E., Osibanjo, O. A (2019) Leadership Styles and Employees’ Commitment: Empirical Evidence from Nigeria. Sage Open. 9(3), 10.1177/2158244019866287
Adom, D., Kportufe, G. E., Asare-Aboagye, I., & Kquofi, S. (2024). Artificial Reproductive Technology: Cultural considerations through an African lens. Research Journal in Advanced Humanities, 5(3). https://doi.org/10.58256/4hsp3z34
Aisedion, R., & Osimen, G. (2023). Modern War Technologies and Global Peace and Security. Canadian Social Science, 138-145.
Alius. (2018, January 30). A Brief History of Modern Warfare Technology: From Gunpowder to Drones. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://www.technology.org: https://www.technology.org/2018/01/30/a-brief-history-of-modern-warfare-technology-from-gunpowder-to-drones/
ALJAZEERA. (2023, December 6). The Take: The role of Israeli AI in Gaza’s massive death toll. Retrieved May 10, 2024, from https://www.aljazeera.com: https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/2023/12/6/the-take-the-role-of-israeli-ai-in-gazas-massive-death-toll
Anyoha, R. (2017, August 28). The History of Artificial Intelligence. Retrieved June 27, 2024, from sitn.hms.harvard.edu: https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2017/history-artificial-intelligence/
Araya, D., & King, M. (2022). The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Military Defence and Security. Waterloo: Centre for International Governance Innovation.
Ashby, H. (2023). A Role for AI in Peacebuilding. Washington, D.C: United States Institute of Peace.
Baker, J. E. (2018). Artificial intelligence and national security law: A dangerous nonchalance. Cambridge: Starr Forum.
BBC. (2020, July 9). Qasem Soleimani: US strike on Iran general was unlawful, UN expert says. Retrieved from www.bbc.com: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53345885
Bendett, S. (2023, 20 July). Roles and Implications of AI in the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict. Retrieved May 18, 2024, from https://www.russiamatters.org: https://www.russiamatters.org/analysis/roles-and-implications-ai-russian-ukrainian-conflict
Bienkowski, M. (1995). Demonstrating the operational feasibility of new technologies: the ARPI IFDs. IEEE Expert, 27-33.
Bird, E., Fox-Skelly, J., Jenner, N., Larbey, R., Weitkamp, E., & Winfield, A. (2020). The ethics of artificial intelligence: Issues and initiatives. Brussels: Scientific Foresight Unit.
Bostrom, N. (2014). SUPERINTELLIGENCE: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Boulanin, V., & Verbruggen, M. (2017). MAPPING THE DEVELOPMENT OF AUTONOMY IN WEAPON SYSTEMS. Solna: STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL PEACE RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
Buchta, S. (2008). Space Weaponization and Canada-U.S. Relations: Lessons from Australia. Journal of Public and International Affairs, 177-192.
Cambridge Dictionary. (n.d.). weaponization. Retrieved from dictionary.cambridge.org: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/weaponization
Chukwudi, C.E., Gberevbie, E.D., Abasilim, U.D., and Imhonopi, D. (2019) IPOB Agitations for Self-Determination and the Response of the Federal Government of Nigeria: Implications for Political Stability. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. 8(3), 179-19
Coeckelbergh, M. (2024). The case for global governance of AI: arguments, counter-arguments, and challenges ahead. AI & Society, 1-4.
Copeland, B. J. (2024, June 24). artificial intelligence. Retrieved June 27, 2024, from www.britannica.com: https://www.britannica.com/technology/artificial-intelligence
Council on Foreign Relations. (2023, May 24). What Is Deterrence? Retrieved from https://education.cfr.org: https://education.cfr.org/learn/reading/what-deterrence
Cruickshank, I. (2023, July). An AI-Ready Military Workforce. Joint Force Quarterly 110, pp. 46-53.
Currie, C. (2022, May 22). The Evolution of War: How AI has Changed Military Weaponry and Technology. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://montrealethics.ai/: https://montrealethics.ai/the-evolution-of-war-how-ai-has-changed-military-weaponry-and-technology/
Daudu, B. O., Osimen, G. U., & Shuaibu, K. (2023). Cyberbullying and Social Media: Implications for African Digital Space. In e. a. Mohamed Lahby (Ed.), Combatting Cyberbullying in Digital Media with Artificial Intelligence. Rutledge.
Dresp-Langley, B. (2023). The weaponization of artificial intelligence: What the public needs to be aware of. Frontiers, 1-6.
Einstein, A. (1988). Einstein On Peace. (O. Nathan, & H. Norden, Eds.) New York: Random House Value Publishing.
Epstein, I. (2022, May 22). The Evolution of War: How AI has Changed Military Weaponry and Technology. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://montrealethics.ai/: https://montrealethics.ai/the-evolution-of-war-how-ai-has-changed-military-weaponry-and-technology/
Fontes, R., & Kamminga, J. (2023, March 24). Ukraine A Living Lab for AI Warfare. Retrieved May 18, 2024, from https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org: https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2023/3/24/ukraine-a-living-lab-for-ai-warfare
Galtung, J. (1969). VIOLENCE, PEACE, AND PEACE RESEARCH. Journal of Peace Research, 167-191.
Industry Expertise. (n.d.). THE MOST USEFUL MILITARY APPLICATIONS OF AI IN 2024 AND BEYOND. Retrieved May 16, 2024, from https://sdi.ai: https://sdi.ai/blog/the-most-useful-military-applications-of-ai/
International Commitee of the Red Cross. (2023, October 6). What you need to know about artificial intelligence in armed conflict. Retrieved May 20, 2024, from https://www.icrc.org: https://www.icrc.org/en/document/what-you-need-know-about-artificial-intelligence-armed-conflict
Joshi, N. (2019, February 4). Modern warfare: what an armed conflict in the future could look like. Retrieved from www.linkedin.com: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/modern-warfare-what-armed-conflict-future-could-look-like-joshi/
Kurzwell, R. (2012). HOW TO CREATE A MIND. Toronto: The Penguin group.
Lahav, E. (2024, February 23). Will AI Be Used By Terrorists? The New Threat: The Dangers Arising from the Use of Advanced Technologies by Radical Islamic Organizations. Retrieved May 18, 2024, from https://idsf.org.il: https://idsf.org.il/en/interviews-en/ai-used-by-terrorists/
Manning, C. (2020, September). Artificial Intelligence Definitions. Retrieved May 8, 2024, from https://hai.stanford.edu: https://hai.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/2020-09/AI-Definitions-HAI.pdf
Marwala, T. (2023, July 7). Militarization of AI Has Severe Implications for Global Security and Warfare. Retrieved from https://unu.edu: https://unu.edu/article/militarization-ai-has-severe-implications-global-security-and-warfare
Maxwell, P. (2020). ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS THE FUTURE OF WARFARE (JUST NOT IN THE WAY YOU THINK). New York: Modern War Institute at West Point.
Mazarr, M. J. (2018). Understanding Deterrence. Santa Monica: RAND Corporation.
Military Africa. (2023, November 27). Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Military. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://www.military.africa/: https://www.military.africa/2023/11/artificial-intelligence-in-the-military/
Nasu, H. (2021, June 10). THE KARGU-2 AUTONOMOUS ATTACK DRONE: LEGAL & ETHICAL DIMENSIONS. Retrieved May 18, 2024, from https://lieber.westpoint.edu: https://lieber.westpoint.edu/kargu-2-autonomous-attack-drone-legal-ethical/
Osimen, G. U., Daudu, B. O., & Awogu-Maduagwu, E. A. (2023). Nigerianness and Misrepresentations of Names and Signatures: Should the Colonized adopt the English Language-Naming Conventions? ISVS e-journal, 10(11), 289-303.
Pincus, R. (2017). ‘To Prostitute the Elements’: Weather Control and Weaponisation by US Department of Defense. War & Society, 64-80.
Pizzi, M., Romanoff, M., & Engelhardt, T. (2020). AI for humanitarian action: Human rights and ethics. International Review of the Red Cross, 145-180.
Puscas, I. (2023). AI and International: Understanding the Risks and Paving the Path for Confidence Building Measures. New York: UNIDIR.
Rashid, A. B., Kausik, A. K., Sunny, A. A., & Bappy, M. H. (2023). Artificial Intelligence in the Military: An Overview of the Capabilities, Applications, and Challenges. (Y.-a. Tan, Ed.) International Journal of Intelligent Systems, 1-31.
Rogin, A., & Zahn, H. (2023, July 9). How militaries are using artificial intelligence on and off the battlefield. Retrieved May 18, 2024, from https://www.pbs.org: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-militaries-are-using-artificial-intelligence-on-and-off-the-battlefield
Saidi, I. (2022). The Weaponization of Artificial Intelligence in the Military: The Importance of Meaningful Human Control. MAS Journal of Applied Sciences, 357-363.
Sandel, M. J. (2010). Doing the Right thing. In M. J. Sandel, Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? (pp. 21-30). New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Seamus, B. H. (2020). Applied Artificial Intelligence in Modern Warfare and National Security Policy. Hastings Science and Technology Law Journal, 60-100.
The Diplomacy Hub. (2023, March 25). How AI is Changing National and International Security? Retrieved May 21, 2024
The Guardian. (2023, December 1). ‘The Gospel’: how Israel uses AI to select bombing targets in Gaza. Retrieved May 11, 2024, from https://www.theguardian.com: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/01/the-gospel-how-israel-uses-ai-to-select-bombing-targets
Tomlinson, K. D. (2016). An Examination of Deterrence Theory: Where Do We Stand? Federal Probation, 33-38.
Trager, R. F., & Luca, L. M. (2022, May 11). Killer Robots Are Here—and We Need to Regulate Them. Retrieved May 16, 2024, from https://foreignpolicy.com: https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/05/11/killer-robots-lethal-autonomous-weapons-systems-ukraine-libya-regulation/
Turchin, P., Hoyer, D., Korotayev, A., Kradin, N., Nefedov, S., Feinman, G., . . . Whitehouse, H. (2021). Rise of the war machines: Charting the evolution of military technologies from the Neolithic to the Industrial Revolution. PLOS One, 1-23.
United Nations Security Council. (2021). Final report of the Panel of Experts on Libya established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1973 (2011). United Nation.
Vergun, D. (2019, September 24). AI to Give U.S. Battlefield Advantages, General Says. Retrieved from https://www.defense.gov: https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1969575/ai-to-give-us-battlefield-advantages-general-says/
Zhang, B. (2021). Public Opinion Toward Artificial Intelligence. Charlottesville,: Center for Open Science.