Can AI decide who lives or dies in modern warfare?

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming modern warfare, promising faster battlefield decisions while raising profound ethical questions over whether machines can be trusted with life-and-death choices.

An analysis by Al Jazeera examines the growing role of AI in military operations, as armed forces increasingly integrate advanced systems into targeting, surveillance and battlefield command.

Technologies ranging from autonomous drones to AI-powered command platforms are reducing the number of human decision-makers involved in military operations.

The shift is already evident in conflicts involving Ukraine, Gaza and Iran. AI-assisted systems have been used for target identification, intelligence analysis and strike planning, allowing militaries to process vast amounts of information in seconds rather than hours.

One of the most prominent examples is Project Maven, an AI platform originally launched by the US Department of Defense in 2017 to analyse drone footage and identify potential military targets.

The system has since evolved into the Maven Smart System, now used across thousands of military operations and by more than 20,000 US personnel.

According to the report, AI is designed to accelerate the military's decision-making cycle by rapidly observing, analysing and recommending actions on the battlefield. Supporters argue that the technology offers commanders greater speed and situational awareness, potentially providing a decisive operational advantage.

However, critics warn that greater speed may come at the expense of human judgement. Al Jazeera highlights concerns that AI systems can process data and recommend strikes but cannot understand the moral consequences of their actions or weigh ethical considerations in the way humans can.

The report also points to an incident during the recent US-Israel war with Iran in which AI-assisted targeting allegedly contributed to a strike that killed civilians after relying on outdated satellite intelligence. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing, while lawmakers continue to demand accountability.

As military spending on AI continues to rise worldwide, experts say the debate is no longer simply about whether artificial intelligence can make accurate battlefield decisions, but whether it should ever be allowed to make moral ones.

By Aghakazim Guliyev