Image credit: U.S. Air Force / Kyle Brasier

June 06, 2023

Is an AI arms race underway?

By Paul Scharre

The role of artificial intelligence has long been debated in military communities. But as recent leapfrog advancements in technology have garnered headlines about the effects on how we live, work and create, consideration of the role of AI in warfare has also gained urgency with some declaring this the era of the AI arms race.

From autonomous weapons and AI-driven strategic decision making to generative misinformation, experts warn that the advancements could completely transform how wars are fought. Russian President Vladimir Putin once declared that “whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.” As the technology continues to improve at a rapid pace, global leaders are beginning to push for consensus on what Responsible AI (RAI) means in the context of militaries.

CNAS Executive Vice President and Director of Studies Paul Scharre joins to discuss.

Watch the full episode and more from Al Jazeera's The Stream.

  • Commentary
    • Foreign Policy
    • June 13, 2023
    Every Country Is on Its Own on AI

    But establishing such an institution quickly enough to match AI’s accelerating progress is likely a pipe dream, given the history of nuclear arms controls and their status tod...

    By Bill Drexel & Michael Depp

  • Commentary
    • The Hill
    • June 10, 2023
    The Time to Regulate AI Is Now

    Policymakers should also be under no illusion that a light regulatory touch will somehow prevent a degree of concentration at AI’s frontier....

    By Caleb Withers

  • Commentary
    • War on the Rocks
    • April 10, 2023
    AI's Inhuman Advantage

    AI agents’ victories demonstrate that machines can dramatically outperform humans in command and control, a potential major advantage in war....

    By Paul Scharre

  • Commentary
    • Foreign Affairs
    • April 4, 2023
    America Can Win the AI Race

    If the United States wants to win the AI competition, it must approach Beijing carefully and construct its own initiatives thoughtfully....

    By Paul Scharre

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia