Artificial Intelligence's Intersection with National Security & Warfare
At the unprecedented rate that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is growing, the technology is set to change nearly every field it interacts with. Specifically, AI is becoming increasingly prevalent in various government departments, and if not integrated properly, it can pose harmful risks to national security. Currently, investments in AI for homeland security have mainly revolved around defense systems such as autonomous ships, facial recognition technology, and maintenance software. [1] However, many of these current devices are still in development and lack the efficacy necessary for full deployment. For efficiency and effectiveness when training the machine learning processes, the United States Department of Defense is required to keep AI as a priority in its military resources. In the years to come, investments in AI technology and defense systems will only increase to maintain the United States' highly developed security and military forces and ensure safety from strategic competitors such as China and Russia. Therefore, it is clear that sufficient policy will need to be implemented to maintain the safety and ethical boundaries of Artificial Intelligence.
In warfare, AI is being utilized in a variety of applications including data processing, combat simulation, threat monitoring, drone swarms, cybersecurity, and casualty care. Through employing AI, operations can become less reliant on human input and create a more structured and controllable form of warfare. Through this, there is an increase in efficiency and a decrease in maintenance, eliminating the impacts of human error and allowing individuals to focus on other important tasks. In terms of AI-controlled devices, drown swarms have proven to be revolutionary in warfare technology. These AI-controlled drone swarms can communicate the direction, distance, and elevation of varying targets, allowing military personnel to easily detect potential dangers. [2] Arguably, one of the most important implementations of AI is its unparalleled ability to analyze data. In the military, data processing and research are critical in developing thorough mission plans. With the use of AI and machine learning, data from all around the world can be filtered through at a much more efficient rate, allowing us to gain the most out of the information as possible.
What is often overlooked in national security and warfare are the impacts of technological attacks that can occur on an international scale. With the 21st century centered around technological advancements, cybersecurity is becoming an increasingly prominent field that is critical to the protection of national security. Furthermore, if integrated properly, artificial intelligence in cybersecurity would work to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats through machine learning and neural networks. Through AI's ability to automate processes, it can quickly identify and warn national security departments of both internal and external security threats that are occurring. AI in cybersecurity is not only used to enhance current threat prediction systems but can also automate routine security checks such as patch management and incident response. AI in cyber security works by gathering the network data, processing and filtering irrelevant information, training the algorithm to identify abnormal activity, and working to resolve these abnormalities to ensure complete system protection. [3] However, a potential issue that may arise is using AI to breach and attack networks that work to connect individuals around the world. As mentioned previously, countries like Russia and China have had conflicts with the United States through technology in previous years. Recently, we have even seen Russia, China, and Iran using AI in election interference efforts. [4] This is just one recent example of conflicting countries using AI to breach national security, and it is imperative to understand that this is just the beginning of how other countries' usage of AI has the potential to significantly damage the welfare of the United States.
While artificial intelligence can have many proposed benefits, it is also imperative to take into account its ethical and regulatory considerations. According to the United States Department of State, the "use of AI in armed conflict must be in accord with States’ obligations under international humanitarian law.” [5] As a leader in international AI policy, The United States has released the "Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy,” which includes ten concrete measures to ensure safety and stability when combatting AI and warfare. These policies include minimizing technological bias, following obligations of international law, and approving who is in charge of using these AI-powered devices. [6] As artificial intelligence continues to grow in how it is implemented in society, policy and legislation must parallel this growth on an international scale to allow the technology to be safely implemented.
As developed countries have begun to understand how powerful AI is, the arms race on global security is becoming increasingly competitive. The race to fully exploit AI has only heightened tensions between global powers, resulting in increased violence and destructive warfare. [7] To avoid this, sufficient policy and regulation must be instilled both on a national and international scale. Current proposed solutions include states agreeing to when developing AI-centered military devices or having NATO revise their current AI strategies to ensure the technology is not being taken advantage of. By implementing further regulation and multilateral agreements and encouraging transparency, countries can protect themselves and others from the dangers of AI when it intersects with global warfare. Additionally, increasing fundign for AI Safety Research and Development can allow for countries to better understand how to implement the technology in a safer manner and avoid the potential of having the technology turn malicious and as a weapon rather than a pivotal resource in advancing society forward. Beyond solutions that directly involve AI, it can also be as simple as increasing public advocacy and awareness about the ethical background behind AI usage and emphasizing how to properly use the device as we progress. Through properly implementing nuanced policy and legislation to protect our national security, AI will prove to be a device that revolutionizes how warfare is handled and can protect hundreds of thousands of individuals from the dangers of human error.
Edited by Ava Betanco-Born
Endnotes
[1] Collier, Kevin. “Russia, Iran, and China Are Using AI in Election Interference Efforts, U.S. Intelligence Officials Say.” NBCNews.com, September 24, 2024. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/russia-iran-china-are-using-ai-election-interference-efforts-us-intell-rcna172476.
[2] Sentient Digital, Inc., “Military Applications of AI in 2024,” Sentient Digital, Inc., June 20, 2024, https://sdi.ai/blog/the-most-useful-military-applications-of-ai/.
[3] SentinelOne, “What Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Cybersecurity?,” SentinelOne, August 8, 2024, https://www.sentinelone.com/cybersecurity-101/data-and-ai/artificial-intelligence-in-cybersecurity/.
[4] U.S. Government Accountability Office, “How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming National Security,” U.S. GAO, September 12, 2024, https://www.gao.gov/blog/how-artificial-intelligence-transforming-national-security.
[5] Vergun, David. “U.S. Endorses Responsible AI Measures for Global Militaries,” U.S. Department of Defense, November 22, 2023, https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/article/3597093/.
[6] Department of State, U.S. Department of State, November 9, 2023, https://www.state.gov/political-declaration-on-responsible-military-use-of-artificial-intelligence-and-autonomy-2/.
[7] Diplomat Magazine, “The AI Arms Race: Transforming Decision-Making in a New Era of Warfare,” Diplomat magazine, September 2, 2024,https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2024/09/01/ai-arms-race/#:~:text=Moreover%2C%20the%20race%20to%20 develop,reminiscent%20of%20the%20Cold%20War.