[Op-ed] Scholars warn for silent revolution in warfare driven by AI-powered decision systems

Researchers Marta Bo (Asser Institute) and Jessica Dorsey (Utrecht University) have published a critical op-ed in Dutch quality paper NRC Handelsblad, shedding light on a silent revolution in modern warfare. Their piece, titled "Er is een stille revolutie gaande in de manier waarop strijdkrachten beslissingen nemen in oorlogstijd," highlights the rapidly increasing use of AI-based Decision Support Systems (AI-DSS) in military operations.

Bo and Dorsey explain that unlike autonomous weapons, AI-DSS don not pull the trigger themselves, but instead analyse data and offer recommendations on where and when to strike. The authors argue that these systems, already deployed in conflicts like those in Gaza and Ukraine, operate largely outside public debate and international regulation.

Urgent action

Bo and Dorsey caution that AI-DSS can subtly influence human judgment, potentially undermining accountability and eroding the protections offered by international humanitarian law. The op-ed calls for urgent action, advocating for ‘human judgment and control’ as an undeniable standard in military AI, greater transparency from developers and users of these systems, and international regulation through the UN General Assembly. The scholars stress that neglecting these issues risks making war even more inhumane.

Read the full op-ed (in Dutch)