Leading through tech? Experimental evidence on the effect of military-technological capabilities on international status

International relations scholarship emphasizes that states tend to pursue advanced military-technological capabilities to elevate their international status, yet evidence of whether such efforts are effective remains limited. To investigate, I conducted two conjoint survey experiments with a representative sample of American respondents, focusing on artificial intelligence, emerging military technologies, and aircraft carriers as primary attributes of interest. Results reveal that advancements in AI substantially enhance perceived status, while the possession of advanced military technologies also contributes positively. However, the source of acquisition matters: acquiring these capabilities indigenously is more likely to bring status benefits than simply buying them from others.