Why AI in defence is a double-edged sword

Published on January 22, 2024



While AI can lend the military significant advantage, former Indian Army chief Gen. M.M. Naravane (retd) explains how fully autonomous weapons pose a great risk

During his address to the joint session of the US Congress in June 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the future is AI—’Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘America India’. At the annual board meeting of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in New Delhi in October 2023, both the chairman emeritus, John Chambers, and the CEO, Dr Mukesh Aghi, stressed the importance of AI in Indo-US ties. AI is the buzz that is resonating globally from government circles to boardrooms. It is going to be for the 21st century what silicon chips were for the previous century, permeating all aspects of our lives.

AI has been a topic of discussion in the defence sector for quite some time. It has the potential to revolutionise the way we approach warfare, from training and surveillance to logistics, cybersecurity, UAVs, advanced military weaponry like Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS), autonomous combat vehicles and robots. AI-powered military devices can handle vast amounts of data, making it easier for the armed forces to make informed decisions. However, the use of AI in the military also poses a significant risk, as it can be used to develop autonomous weapons that can operate without human intervention. The use of such weapons can lead to unintended consequences and pose a threat to human life.

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