Should we ban artificial intelligence from nuclear weapons systems? — Global Security Review

By: Professor Steffan Puwal

Amid conflict and global security concerns, 2023 could also prove to be a pivotal year for automated nuclear weapons systems.

A year that began with chatbots and artificial intelligence (AI) as major hot topics – some with particularly worrying headlines – ended with members of the US Congress introducing legislation banning nuclear weapons AI systems and with US President Biden signing an executive agreement. Order on the subject. The issue even came up during discussions between the United States and China at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which met in San Francisco in November.

One can imagine a hypothetical scenario in which a nuclear weapon targets a naval base, but an approach pattern reconnaissance determines that the target submarines have already put to sea, and so the missile opts for a redirected submarine strike to the place of an atmospheric detonation. This is just one of many possible scenarios to consider involving AI.

AI systems offer the opportunity to strengthen nuclear deterrence by providing a more precise and effective defensive nuclear response. The goal of making nuclear weapons more precise and more efficient is not to promote their use. Such capabilities, on the contrary, provide a more credible deterrent in the face of nuclear war and are consistent with conventional nuclear doctrine. AI is simply a strategic tool, just like nuclear weapons themselves.

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