AI-DRIVEN WARFARE: IMPLICATIONS FOR MILITARY STRATEGY AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the contemporary warfare and has a profound impact on the military strategy and international security. AI tools enable the military to detect targets more precisely and react to threats more effectively and promptly. Consequently, the armed forces can make decisions much faster and carry out operations on a more precise basis than previously. Meanwhile, scientists and policy-makers also caution that AI-powered warfare poses a severe threat and a challenge. This research paper explores how AI tools and applications influence military operations, force structure, and doctrine and what are the ethical, legal and strategic risks are associated with AI-powered warfare. Employing a qualitative research design, the paper explores the existing literature in the field and policy-related documents. The findings reveal that while AI tools offer unprecedented capabilities for data analysis, target precision, and rapid decision-making, their accelerated deployment risks triggering a new arms race, emergent escalation, and complex issues of accountability, civilian protection, and human control over lethal autonomous systems. The paper concludes that despite immense tactical and operational benefits, the long-term strategic risks of AI in warfare necessitate urgent international collaboration, robust regulatory frameworks, and the alignment of new security policies to help guarantee international security.