AI raises the stakes in wars globally

Significance Leading powers are expending enormous human and financial resources to leverage AI tools for military purposes, with uncertain effects. Academic and think-tank discussions about the use of AI in war are routinely overtaken by real-world combat in Ukraine and Gaza. Impacts Great power competition encourages AI risk-taking in an effort to seek military advantage. An existential risk from AI may emanate less from malign intent and more from mistaken guidance and inscrutable AI decision-making. Militaries would conceal any ability to deactivate ‘misbehaving’ AI systems for fear adversaries would use it to disrupt their operations.