Military and Security Aspects of Artificial Intelligence

This paper presents military and security aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a new area of security policy. AI is commonly understood as the ability of machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence and is a key area of advanced computing. Important AI-related techniques include neural networks, deep learning, machine learning, Edge computing and robotics. The concepts and definitions of AI and its impact on engineering are presented. The United States and China compete for technology leadership in AI, followed by Europe. The AI strategies of these actors are presented, with a focus on military projects which include a large variety of unmanned and autonomous vehicles, but also C2 (Command and Control) and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) programs. AI systems have a specific cybersecurity profile, they can serve in cyber-attack detection and automated cyber defense, but have also complex vulnerabilities which can be exploited with new attack types such as data poisoning and adversarial images. AI systems are also of growing importance for information warfare. Finally, the challenging field of machine logic and ethics is briefly presented