Military Applications of Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Concerns in an Uncertain World

by Forrest E. Morgan, Benjamin Boudreaux, Andrew J. Lohn

The authors examine the ethical considerations, benefits, and risks of military applications of artificial intelligence. Comparing development efforts in the United States, China, and Russia (as well as various positions on proposals to regulate or ban autonomous weapons), the authors point to a need for the United States to continue to pursue advantages in the field and explore confidence-building and risk-reduction measures with other states.

223 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2020

About the author

Forrest E. Morgan, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST), Carnegie Mellon University. Morgan served 27 years in the U.S. Air Force then worked 16 years at the RAND Corporation doing strategy and doctrine research for national defense clients. He has authored and coauthored numerous books and research papers. While doing research in military applications of artificial intelligence at RAND, he was inspired to write his second novel, The Synthetic Woman.

Morgan practiced Asian martial arts for 30 years and taught them much of that time. His 1992 book, Living the Martial Way, sold over 125,000 copies and has been described as a classic in martial arts philosophy. His first novel, Waking the Snow
Leopard, is available in soft cover, Kindle, and audiobook.

Reviews

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Military Applications of Artificial Intelligence: Ethical Concerns in an Uncertain World by Forrest E. Morgan, Benjamin Boudreaux, and Andrew J. Lohn is an incisive and thought-provoking exploration of how AI is transforming the nature of modern warfare. The authors dissect not only the technological race among global powers like the U.S., China, and Russia but also the moral and strategic dilemmas that come with developing autonomous systems capable of lethal decision making.

The writing is precise and deeply analytical, balancing policy insight with ethical reflection. What makes this book particularly compelling is its balanced tone acknowledging the necessity of innovation while urging the establishment of confidence-building measures to prevent global escalation.

A must-read for policymakers, defense analysts, and anyone interested in the intersection of technology, security, and ethics in an era defined by uncertainty.