Dr. Engy Mahdy

Military competition is one of the international order’s most important processes that are affected by technological progress, whether in the field of weapons, military research, or transportation. The AI arms race will have a long-term effect and form a major part of the global weapons race in this century, which highlights a new digital cold war between China and the United States. Here, we make observations about this international competition:1. Major IT companies in both the United States and China are leading an AI advancement strategy, with military forces racing to integrate AI applications into military planning.2. Research and development constitute the foundation for superiority in this area, whether for military or civilian uses. The competition between the United States and China is heated, with Russia a little further off, and European countries far behind. A few other countries seek to enter the race, such as South Korea, but their efforts remain limited.3. Because the competition in this field is relatively recent, the international community has not agreed on the rules governing and regulating its various applications and uses.Based on the foregoing, the use of AI in the military sphere holds a number of key advantages, the most important of which include threat sensors in aircraft or vehicles and guidance for soldiers on how to deal with them, as well as training program content and measurement of trainees’ progress.In addition, AI supports the cybersecurity of personnel and communications networks; by contrast, it is also used in cyberattacks to disrupt weapons systems and shut down vital infrastructure. AI also improves recruitment and facilitates finding the right personnel, such as the Gig Eagle application.One of the advantages of military use of AI is that it helps to smooth transportation operations. For example, self-driving vehicles are equipped with AI to handle unfamiliar environments. Among the most important military AI applications are lethal autonomous weapon systems, unmanned aircraft, and AI systems in cyberspace.Despite these advantages, there are negative aspects surrounding military AI, such as:1. The increasing integration of AI into military systems will have serious implications for war applications and will raise many new moral and legal questions. More dangerously, intentional interest in the issue will often lead to downplaying the most extreme risks.2. Despite ongoing debates at the United Nations, an international or institutional ban on military AI is not likely to happen soon.3. The potential proliferation of military AI applications to non-state actors is another area of concern.4. The dangers of military AI range from ethical risks to operational risks surrounding the trustworthiness, vulnerability, and security of systems. There are international concerns that AI increases the risk of miscalculations that can be contained with human supervision. As for strategic risks, they include the possibility that military AI increases the prevalence of wars and escalates current conflicts, spreading them and multiplying the parties involved, be they state or non-state.Based on the foregoing, we make the following recommendations:1. Nations must control ongoing investment in military AI, while emphasizing the need for human accountability.2. Governments must seek to have a fair share of this technology.3. Society must be made aware of the obligation of armies to mitigate the ethical risks associated with AI.4. Policies should be reviewed with allied countries and partners, whether in the development or use of military AI.5. Potential steps should be explored to build trust and limit risks at the level of major and middle powers and to support the establishment of a UN agency for AI.6. Despite the clear role of AI in terms of technology and military decision-making strategies, it should not have the same influence on military doctrines. The human element should still have the biggest role in developing and reviewing military doctrine.7. The compliance of military AI systems with international law must be monitored.In conclusion, decision-makers must study the possibilities offered by AI technology, which brings, in addition to competition, many opportunities for cooperation and inter-reliance, especially in the area of AI governance. Decision-makers should also be aware that preparation for the AI era consists not only of fearing its harms but also of mastering its tools.&nbsp;

How is Artificial Intelligence Reshaping International Military Competition?