Artificial Intelligence – The Frontier of a New Era in National Defense

Key Chapter Title List

1. The Evolution of Warfare: When AI Generates War Strategies Beyond Human Comprehension
2. Non-Human Thinking: The Challenge of AI-Generated "Alien" Solutions to Military Doctrine
3. Lethal Autonomous Weapons: Strategic and Ethical Dilemmas from "Killer Robots" to Micro-Drone Swarms
4. The AI Arms Race: Is the United States Falling Behind?
5. Fear of "Killer Robots": Policy Gaps, Public Misconceptions, and the Practical Barriers of Military Culture
6. Applications of AI in National Security and Disaster Response
7. Predictive Maintenance AI: The Pioneering Practice of the Special Operations Command
8. The Leading Role of the Special Operations Command in the Militarization of AI
9. Attacking AI: How to Deceive and Defeat Enemy Intelligent Systems
10. Simulation and Application of AI in Wargaming
11. Cybersecurity Threats Posed by the Accelerated Development of Military AI

Document Introduction

This report systematically explores the fundamental transformations, strategic opportunities, and severe challenges arising from the deep integration of artificial intelligence technology into the defense and security domains. The report begins by posing a core paradox: to what extent should commanders trust and execute these "super-intelligent" plans when AI can generate complex war strategies that surpass human understanding? This inquiry directly addresses the core issues of human-machine relationships, command authority, and the reshaping of war principles.

The report provides a detailed analysis of the specific forms of AI in military applications, ranging from assisted target identification, predictive maintenance, and cognitive electronic warfare to automated logistics planning. It particularly notes that, unlike traditional automated systems (such as "Aegis"), AI based on machine learning can self-evolve through experience, and its decision-making logic may become untraceable. This has spurred the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) prioritized research into "Explainable AI." However, the report also cites expert opinions suggesting that requiring AI reasoning to be confined to a human-understandable scope may constrain its potential to generate disruptive, counter-intuitive, yet highly effective strategies, as demonstrated by Amazon's "random storage" warehouse management algorithm. This forces traditional military principles, such as "simplicity of plan," "unity of objective," and "unity of command," to be redefined or abandoned on the AI-dominated battlefield.

The report conducts an in-depth assessment of the most controversial lethal autonomous weapon systems. It moves beyond conventional fears of large autonomous combat platforms (like robotic tanks) to focus on the "game-changing" threat posed by micro-lethal drone swarms constructed from commercial components (such as quadcopters, facial recognition software, and homemade explosives). Citing warnings from experts like Stuart Russell, the report points out that these cheap, mass-producible autonomous weapons essentially constitute a new type of weapon of mass destruction, potentially usable for "swarm genocide" against specific populations. Simultaneously, the report analyzes the actual meaning and gaps in relevant U.S. Department of Defense policies (such as DoD Directive 3000.09), clarifies the common misunderstanding of "human-in-the-loop," and notes that the primary obstacles to current development are not technical or legal, but rather the U.S. military's culture that values human roles and ethics.

The report contrasts the differences in national AI strategies between the United States and China, pointing out potential U.S. shortcomings in funding, strategic detail, and execution plans, which risk falling behind in the AI arms race. Furthermore, using the U.S. Special Operations Command as an example, the report explores its pioneering role in the operational application of AI, emphasizing its characteristics such as flat organization, high risk tolerance, and proficiency in rapid prototyping and battlefield integration.

The report also discusses the vulnerabilities of AI systems, viewing them as a new "attack surface." Through "adversarial AI" techniques, adversaries can deceive or disrupt AI systems using methods like data poisoning and adversarial sample inputs. This offensive and defensive warfare between AIs constitutes a new frontline in the algorithmic age. Finally, the report examines the cybersecurity threats arising from the rapid deployment of military AI, warning that failure to proactively address security vulnerabilities in AI systems and rushing deployment will significantly expand the attack surface, leading to catastrophic consequences.

Based on military documents, testimonies from senior officials, think tank meeting records, and interviews with domain experts, this report is detailed in content and objective in analysis. It provides defense policymakers, military strategists, security researchers, and the public concerned with technological ethics a crucial perspective for understanding how artificial intelligence will define the future security landscape.