APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MILITARY: BOON OR

BANE?

Synopsis
Artificial intelligence is a technology in the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Its use
in industry and information technology has an impact on the well-being of
human life. However, the Revolution in Military Affairs is always moving in
parallel with the Industrial Revolution, applying artificial intelligence in
military reality. This military artificial intelligence technology is said to
change the shape of future warfare. Although military artificial intelligence is
expected to provide many benefits to enhance military operational
capabilities, it can also pose risks that could threaten international stability.
Competition over ownership of military artificial intelligence technology
systems among the US and China is also predicted to create a new military
balance of power in the future. This phenomenon will also have implications
for small and medium military strategies for their survival.

"Artificial intelligence is not only the future of Russia; it is the future of

all humankind. There are enormous opportunities and threats that are
difficult to predict today. The one who becomes a leader in this sphere will
be the ruler of the world."
Vladimir Putin
Russian
President
September 2017

'Project Maven brings AI to the fight against ISIS' was reported by CNN on 30

December 2017. This news sparked a new phenomenon in the international defence system.

For the first time, the military used artificial intelligence (AI) systems with deep learning and

neural networks support on the battlefield. However, unlike 'Terminator' seen in movies,

Project Maven has only limited and specialised capabilities. It can only perform monitoring

surveillance video and then analyse the data to predict the appropriate operational solution.

(Allen, 2017)

Although AI technology has developed since the 1950s, the success of Project Maven

used by the United States (US) in defeating ISIS has further increased the interest of various

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countries to develop and implement AI in their respective militaries. Besides, as the US

considered a leader in military AI technology and systems, China also set its military AI to

preserve the security of its country. Not only bounded to military superpowers, small and

medium-size military are also interested in modernising their defence systems using military

AI technology. Malaysia has also intended to use AI in the military as part of the Malaysian

Armed Forces (MAF) modernisation policy through the Defense White Paper issued in 2019.

Increased interest and efforts to apply military AI have indirectly justified the

Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) is always in line with the expansion of the Industrial

Revolution (IR), which is the IR4.0 at present. But every time there is a development in the

RMA, it will also have pro and con impacts on peace and security between nations, such as

nuclear technology that triggered the Cold War for decades. According to Barno & Bensahel

(2018), despite the economic and well-being benefits derived from AI in public, it is also a

significant factor in changing future warfare and security threats. Therefore, since AI

application has become a reality in the military, military AI should have beneficial and

risky potential and affects international security and defence.

To analyse the impacts of the military AI application, I have structured this essay into

the following topics: first, the militarisation of artificial intelligence; second, potential benefits

of AI in the military; third, the military application of AI; fourth, emerging issues of military

AI application; and finally, the strategic implication for small/medium military. In the end, a

summary will be made on the impact of AI application in the military and propose the

potential application of military AI in MAF.

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 Firstly, the militarisation of artificial intelligence. According to Stern (2020), AI is an

intelligence system applied to a particular technology or machine to develop its role through

learning, behaviour formation and adaptation of the machine or technology with a computer

system. It first founded in 1956 and extended in IR4.0 through its capabilities to increase

computer storage capacity. Indirectly, these developments also drive RMA towards the

application of AI technology in the military.

Today's development of AI technology, especially in industry and information

technology, has reached more complex programming to apply algorithms from deep learning

and machine learning. Through this achievement, AI can now perform tasks and provide more

complex solutions in more varied conditions. In general, AI works by combining several data,

intelligent algorithms, repetitive, and system processing. It can allow a machine or

technology to learn automatically according to patterns and features, including machine

learning, deep learning, computer vision, language processing, neural network, and cognitive

computation. In addition, AI is also expanding its capabilities to support systems such as

graphics processing, the internet of things, advanced algorithms, and application processing

interfaces (API). (Wood, 2019) Therefore, it has made AI an increasingly important role in

line with machine learning technology that has adopted AI as its main component.

Furthermore, by being characterised as an autonomous system, the AI system has great

freedom to perform its tasks under minimal human supervision. Autonomy also enables more

accurate and fast results or decisions, high reliability, and increased resilience of human

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productivity. It also allows an operation to be carried out on a larger scale and reduces

reliance on roles or human.

Knowingly that RMA consistently moved in line with IR. Thus the expansion of AI in

the public and commercial sectors has also influenced its growth in the military. AI

technology is seen as very significant with the development of future military capabilities as

history has shown the broad tendency of the military to use a computer and electric

technology militarily since the beginning of the technology. But unlike a single technology

such as nuclear technology, military AI technology is seen to broaden its purpose by enabling

more significant manoeuvrability of the armed forces, moving faster and farther, contributing

greater combat power, and covering a wider domain of war. Thus, military AI is changing the

dimensions of future warfare through the cognitive revolution, bringing in the cognitive

aspects of warfare. Military powers that own and control military AI operate faster in the

broader system, more effective and efficient command and control, and perform more

complex and dispersed operations. (Morgan et al., 2020)

The latest defence industry studies on the development of military AI technology are

introducing new elements in warfare, significantly adding and enhancing human cognition.

Physical and digital machines are indeed carried out tasks alone despite the limitations of

challenging and narrow battlespace. However, the military AI system still has to rely on

human intelligence, the most advanced cognitive processing system on the planet, especially

in terms of endurance, flexibility, and general intelligence. Therefore, the integration of

machine intelligence and human intelligence functions will significantly focus on developing

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military AI technology to cover each other's weaknesses, complement capabilities, and

enhance each other's strengths in winning a war of uncertainty and chaos. (Finlay et al., 2019)

In conclusion, the development of RMA, which has always been in line with the IR, is a

strong hypothesis to predict the rise of AI technology dominance in the military through the

development of military AI. This military application of AI will, in turn, change the

dimension of future warfare in the cognitive aspect of warfare but remain the interdependency

between human and machine intelligence for the effectiveness of the battlefield system.

Secondly, the potential benefits of AI in the military. Indeed, AI technology has

played an essential role in the industrial and information technology sector to increase

productivity, service effectiveness, and unlimited information management. However, the

military can utilise AI technology for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and

logistics applications, autonomous vehicles, command and control, and lethal autonomous

weapon systems (LAWS).

ISR. In intelligence, big data management is a significant challenge to produce factual

information for use in the decision-making process to launch the successive military

operation. AI with deep algorithm intelligence can process these intelligence data in various

forms such as text, digital images, and audio or visual recordings. (Roth, 2019) For instance,

the Maven Project, equipped with AI algorithm interpretation capabilities and computer

vision, is used to manage image and recording data taken from autonomous aircraft to identify

enemy activities and target setting. Indirectly, AI technology can save human analysts time to

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filter and link the intelligence data to enable more accurate and fast results to be obtained in

real-time.

Logistics. AI plays a significant role in military logistics, especially in maintenance and

distribution management. In maintaining vehicles, aircraft, and ships, the military can use AI

for predictive maintenance by providing a maintenance schedule that matches its maintenance

schedule and adjusting its maintenance needs based on the current repair needs. The US

Airforce has used this method to maintain F-35 aircraft by inserting sensors into the onboard

systems and engines to extract data to identify their maintenance and equipment replacement

needs. In the distribution process, AI can increase the ability of the military to plan and

implement supply or resupply plans. All military elements can link their supply requirements

data directly to the logistics control centre. The AI algorithm system will process the data for

supply requirements planning, distribution plan, and storage. For example, the contract use of

IBM's Watson supply management system used by the US Army has improved its logistics

capabilities. It is being found in a short period to save costs and time for supply distribution.

(Morgan et al., 2020)

Autonomous Vehicles. As AI technology in commercial autonomous vehicles can

recognise the environment, detect obstacles, navigate movement, and communicate with other

vehicles, AI systems have been applied for military's autonomous vehicles, including land

vehicles, drones, aircraft, and naval ships. These autonomous vehicles can be used in various

combat, logistics and intelligence operations and work alone or in groups. For example, the

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US Army has planned to develop several robotic combat vehicles (RCV) with various

autonomous functions.

Command and Control. The military can also utilise the analytical potential of AI in

terms of command and control. In addition to the concept of Joint Operation, which covers a

broad domain, AI is the best solution for planning and implementing land, sea, air, and

cyberspace operations. AI can play a role in combining data from all of these domains

centrally for decision-making process purposes, such as determining the composition of the

optimal force for an operation. The AI algorithm system can assist the Commander in making

decisions by providing various timely courses of action on the battlefield.

LAWS. LAWS is a unique weapon system that uses sensors and AI algorithms to

identify and destroy the target autonomously. Such a weapon system is essential for military

operations in a limited communication environment where conventional methods of operation

are not feasible.

Overall, the development of AI technology commercially can be adapted to military

equipment and supplies to increase the effectiveness of various operations. Military AI is not

limited to improving the 'kinetic' or 'hard power' function only but includes logistic,

supportive, and strategic applications, providing forces with qualitative information, edge, and

staying power.

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 Thirdly, the military application of AI. We can consider all of the AI potential benefits

to the countries that precede its use, whether for public or military purposes. Success in

driving AI technology by a government will help to boost its economy and military power

more progressively and dynamically. Furthermore, it expects to create a new balance of power

because dominance in AI application by a country will allow them to control the battlespace,

especially in command and control, combat power, logistics, and decision-making. Therefore,

it is not surprising that superpower states such as the US and China are inclined to develop

their military AI for defence and security purposes.

The United States and Military AI. Currently, the US can be considered a significant

leader in military AI to improve the operational effectiveness of its armed forces and force

projection capabilities. According to Morgan et al. (2020), a strong desire for US commitment

is based on their experience and success in using drone systems on the battlefield, especially

in Iraq and Afghanistan. Subsequently, in 2014, the US defence has formulated the

'Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap' as a guide in developing Unmanned Autonomous

Systems (UAS), for ground, maritime and airborne, in the period up to 2038. In 2015, the US

became more greedy in military AI applications by launching the "Third Offset Strategy" to

finance wargaming and demonstrate new technologies, including unmanned aircraft,

autonomous weapons, deep-learning machines, and mother ship drones. (Finlay et al., 2019)

For defensive system purposes, the US now has the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense

System and the Phalanx Close-In Weapons System (CIWS), which has the autonomous

capability to function to protect its ships from missile or aircraft attacks. US has also begun to

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use military AI for offensive system purposes with the Tomahawk Anti-Ship Missile (TASM)

production, which serves as a fully autonomous weapon system. It was followed by

developing a more up-to-date autonomous weapon system, namely the Long Range Anti-Ship

Missile (LRASM) and High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). Furthermore, the US has

also developed autonomous flying systems through the Joint Unmanned Combat Air Systems

program to produce the X47-B and MQ-25. Next, AI has performed various tasks such as

personnel management, planning, logistics, communications, and intelligence for planning

and logistics purposes. For instance, the Dynamic Analysis and Replanning Tool (DART), the

Joint Assistant for Deployment and Execution (JADE) and the Survivable Adaptive Planning

Experiment (SAPE) were designed to assist in developing planning for forces and equipment

deployment in different conflict levels. (Roth, 2019)

China and Military AI. China is the second biggest 'player' in military AI. The

development of military AI in China has always closely followed the developments achieved

by the US, especially in the aspect of machine-learning development. According to Zhang et

al. (2021), although China opposes the development, production, and use of LAWS, at the

same time, China is aggressively developing various military AI systems. China's primary

focus is developing airborne robotic systems to increase platforms and tactics effectiveness

through AI. For instance, China has increased its drone capability to launch attacks

autonomously and overcome the US-owned X47-B capabilities, collaboratively grouped to

identify, set, and strike high-value targets simultaneously. China is developing smart AI cruise

missiles like LRASM with target identification and route setting capabilities and upgrading

with some sense, learning, cognition, and decision-making capabilities.

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 Next, China also developed ground robotic systems through unmanned ground

vehicles (UGVs) with a high degree of autonomy capabilities, similar to the Sharp Claw I and

the Sharp Claw II. These UGVs can autonomously identify, track and engage targets as well

as conduct reconnaissance. China is also not behind in developing a maritime robotic system

to increase the effectiveness of the Navy fleet. The focus of the development of AI

applications is given to the USV's autonomous navigation capability to defend its ports and

fleets at sea. Besides, small underwater drones have also been produced for surveying or ISR

purposes, including deep-sea drones and underwater gliders.

Furthermore, China has planned to expand armed USVs to operate independently over

extended periods and longer distances. The USV is also capable of launching attacks in

antisubmarine and antisurface operations autonomously. In addition, China was also secretly

developing military AI technology for ISR, autonomous command decision-making, and

Cyberwarfare used.

In conclusion, military AI technology has built competition among superpower states,

especially between the US and China. Meanwhile, Russia was found slightly behind the US

and China due to economic constraints, only focusing on developing AI applications in

robotics on a medium scale. Therefore, the US and China will be dominant military

superpowers for the next decades and create a new balance of power by applying military AI

in their defence systems.

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 Fourthly, the emerging issues of military AI application. The competition of military

superpowers in applying AI in their respective military systems has justified that military AI

technology will determine the future concept of warfare and balance of power. However, how

the changes brought by military AI to improve offensive or defensive operations positively

and negatively depending on AI's specific application. Therefore, the possibilities for risks

posed by the development of military AI need to be observed comprehensively, such as

accident risks, predelegated authority, and overtrust in automation. All possible risks also

need to be prudently addressed in determining how to use AI technology for peace and

security purposes.

Accident risks. The commercial use of AI has shown success in autonomous driving, for

example, autopilot flight systems in commercial aircraft. This automation demonstrates the

great potential of autonomous use of AI in the military to improve control over military

strength, accuracy on the battlefield and reduce human casualties. However, autonomous

systems also draw risks when confronted with weather and environmental uncertainties and

the diversity of terrain and natural obstacles on the battlefield. The failures of the autonomous

system to adapt to the uncertainty on the battlefield can lead to significant accidents and

severe damage. It can, in turn, lead to an unintended escalation of conflict or result in deaths

among civilians.

Predelegated authority. When an autonomous system is used in a crisis, it means that

humans are predelegating authority for decisive action to a machine. The autonomous system

does not have flexible thinking and feels like humans. Human considerations of action are

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likely to change at the peak of crises based on humanitarian factors or diplomacy to resolve

conflicts. However, the autonomous system always functions as it has been programmed;

thus, the risk will increase in crisis or conflict.

Overtrust in automation. Excessive human dependence on machines creates the

phenomenon of automation bias. Overtrusting in a machine can cause unforeseen accidents or

miscalculation. AI machines will usually analyse the data obtained and provide a solution for

humans to action. However, if the data obtained are insufficient, especially during the peak of

crises or surprise attacks, flawed analysis and solutions are likely to lead to an increased risk

of conflicts or crises. AI systems that are not transparent and difficult to understand how their

algorithms work will cause humans always to be ambiguous to determine the validity of the

analysis they perform.

Mitigating potential risks. Various parties have expressed their concern over the greed

of military organisations to integrate AI without taking those risks seriously. Countries

competing for military control of AI may not have any appropriate preventive measures.

Those risks need to be addressed so that AI applications can succeed in more comprehensive

security. According to Morgan et al. (2020), the most utmost concern in producing military AI

should focus on developing intelligent weapon systems that still involve a significant human

role in controlling, monitoring, or intervening with those systems. Laws also need to be

performed regarding military AI, i.e. LAWS, to prevent the production and use of fully

autonomous weapons systems in setting and destructing targets without human involvement

or control. Authorisation for applying AI equipment or weaponry must be approved and

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monitored by specific international authorities by testing its design, function, and

management to meet authenticated security criteria. Humans are also required to be held

accountable for decision-making or control over autonomous weapons and determine the level

of use of autonomous weapons appropriate to a crisis or conflict situation.

In conclusion, although the integration of AI in the military can gain various benefits, its

use also has risks to human life and safety. Military AI systems should not have total

autonomy because the considerations of the human mind and soul should also be taken into

account when making decisions in a crisis. Therefore, to minimise these risks, the human role

must also be directly involved with these systems.

Finally, a strategic implication for the small and medium military. The application of

AI in the military is that all parties must accept for the specific purpose of a country. But its

development is seen to be dominated only by superpower countries such as the US and China.

It has shown a tendency towards change in the balance of power concentrated in both states

concerned. According to the RMA theory, the small/medium military will also be affected

when a new technology introduced can change military affairs due to their minimal

capabilities compared to countries leading to technology development. (Dominggo, 2014)

Unlike other physical technologies, i.e. electric and nuclear technology, AI technology

has an immense domain involving social and digital technology. According to Salleh (2020),

AI may very well prove to be one of the critical transformations to the small/medium military

to determine the defence strategy and policy of their respective military affairs. They need to

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be clear about who they are, their alliance, and how they do it. Building a fundamental fighter

jet is beyond their capabilities, so how could they produce a sixth-generation fighter jet based

on AI technology that uses deep-learning AI algorithms. Thus, the small/medium military's

reliance on the US and China in their security and defence aspects will be expected to be very

significant due to military AI technology's impact.

In such a defence strategy, the small/medium military needs to start thinking about

using AI technology for their defence and security purposes in the future. They also need to

identify AI application priorities to be implemented immediately within existing structural

and process frameworks. This effort will be an agent of change in their defence organisations

by initiating, experimenting, and stimulating the implementation of appropriate AI

technologies. Dialogue with various parties in the security and defence ecosystem also needs

to be enhanced on challenges and opportunities in AI, including ethical, legal and privacy

aspects. Concept planning, partnership, capability, and policy should also begin by focusing

on the appropriate defence of AI options. Next, this dynamic AI technology development

must be closely monitored, involving the complete security and defence ecosystem. Any

emergence of new AI technology essential to defence and security organisations should be

applied as soon as possible. Finally, the small/medium military needs to start with artificial

superintelligence and establish relations with these technology-leading countries according to

the available options. (Barno & Bensahel (2018)

Overall, AI technology will have significant impacts on small/medium military defence

strategies such as Malaysia. The defence policy of small/medium militaries for modernising

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their forces will focus on the ownership or application of military AI appropriate to their

capabilities and resilience. The attitude favouring the US or China will become increasingly

apparent among the small/medium military to preserve the security of their defences. On the

other hand, the option to remain neutral is also an option for the small/medium military not to

be caught in the competition among superpowers.

In conclusion, impact analysis on AI application in the military found that military AI

technology has been in the international security and defence ecosystem and would continue

to overgrow its development in the future. Therefore, it is highly appropriate for this essay

to analyse the impact of military AI applications that indeed have beneficial and risky

potentials and obviously will affect international security and defence.

The rise of military AI technology is significant to the RMA theory, which consistently

moves with IR. The military can harness the potential of AI through applications in logistics,

supportive and strategy to enhance the ability of ‘kinetic’ or ‘hard power’ function and

provide forces with qualitative information, edge, and staying power. The US and China,

which now dominates AI technology, are predicted to be the dominant power for several more

decades as military AI will determine future warfare’s conducts and dimensions. It will also

have significant impacts on the defence strategy of the small and medium military, whether it

will use the strategy of an international organisation, alliance, hedging, and neutrality for their

survival.

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 While AI integration can benefit the military, especially in autonomous systems, it also

has risks to human life and security. Among the possible risks are accident risks, autonomy

and predelegated authority, and overtrust in automation. Therefore, to minimise these risks,

the human role must also be directly involved with the military AI system.

The analysis made in this essay is in line with Malaysia’s commitment through the

Defense White Paper to modernise its armed forces with the use of AI technology to enhance

its capabilities to preserve national peace and sovereignty. Therefore, MAF needs to identify

possible domains of AI technology that are a priority for its organisation and roles. The

country’s Defense Strategy involves two homeland regions separated by the South China Sea;

MAF’s suitability is command and control and logistics applications. In addition, Malaysia

also needs to be actively involved at the international forums to ensure that military AI is only

used to maintain international peace and security and no misuse of such technology to disrupt

international stability. In terms of international strategic relations, Malaysia should continue

to adopt a neutral strategy to deal with the new balance of power that will emerge in line with

the development of military AI. The neutrality strategy is very effective to be implemented by

Malaysia as a medium-size military because its implementation has been able to preserve the

peace and security of the country from being violated by foreign powers.

(3,963 words)

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