Militarization of AI in South Asia

Ghania Leila Khan

AI is a general-purpose technology that does not function independently but enhances or adds functionality when integrated into military systems. In South Asia, nuclear power states have increasingly embraced AI and machine learning, particularly investing in land-based weapons systems. The advancement of AI in military applications could raise concerns about the survivability of second-strike capabilities, potentially destabilizing the region. AI-led systems such as early warning systems, decision support for command and control, and intelligence-analysis tools can escalate conflicts or even prompt preemptive strikes, thereby creating instability.

AI-led systems such as early warning systems and decision support tools can escalate conflicts or even prompt preemptive strikes

Despite the growing significance of AI in military contexts, national efforts to militarize AI receive less public attention compared to civilian AI development. This qualitative research, based on data gathered from open-source secondary and tertiary resources, examines the investments in AI defense security by India and Pakistan The study aims to understand how AI has transformed warfare tactics, emphasizing the increasing autonomy on the battlefield. This theory-driven research is significant as it explores how AI is likely to alter traditional modes of warfare, potentially leading to new challenges in regional and global security.

With the knowledge of technological change, we have from previous years, we can use that to predict the future. In this case, whether AI will have a stabilizing or destabilizing effect. There is this presumption that weapons with some form of anatomy will have large independent effects on the tactics of warfare. Or conflict initiation.

Technology doesn’t exist independently. Throughout history, it has had stabilizing and de-stabling effects. The advancement of weapons can be used as a deterrence strategy. AI and machine learning excites its effects during conflict, peace, and escalation.

The militarization of AI could create a less predictable, stable situation in South Asia.

If things were to go wrong it be detrimental to humanity itself. When a human being is given a task, is should be completed with some concise and moral guidance. When a robot is given a task, it becomes it life mission. Will go above and beyond to complete it.

 Currently, most of the data is trying to prevent anything from going wrong. Hence, international organizations such as the United Nations. Are calling for a limitation of the militarization of AI.

Despite the growing significance of AI in military contexts, national efforts to militarize AI receive less public attention compared to civilian AI development. AI is likely to alter traditional modes of warfare, potentially leading to new challenges in regional and global security.

AI-led systems such as early warning systems, decision support for command and control, and intelligence-analysis tools can escalate conflicts or even prompt preemptive strikes, thereby creating instability.

AI is transforming warfare tactics by enhancing the autonomy of battlefield systems.

With the development of technology and defense systems in the region, AI advances in the region could cause doubt about the survivability of their second-strike capability. Military AI potentially has specific roles in each of the steps of the escalation ladder. It could create a less predictable, stable situation in South Asia. AI-led weapon systems and military applications of AI such as early warning systems, decision support command and control, and intelligence-analysis systems have the potential to engage in escalation actions or even pre-emtive attacks creating instability in the region.

Data gathered from open-source information shows India, Pakistan, and China. Are interested in the potential benefits of AI defense security. Since 2018 the South Asia nuclear powers have pushed funding and initiatives for the militarization of AI With India enhancing the precision and accuracy of their land-based weapons. Via the use of AI machine learning and deep learning. And have adopted AI-driven technology such as drones. AI-driven technology, such as swarm drones, enhances this synergy by improving the military’s real-time decision-making and situational awareness. This marks a major advancement in India’s defense capabilities.

National efforts to militarize AI receive less public attention compared to civilian AI development.

AI is likely to change the existing ways and means or tactics of warfare by enhancing the level of autonomy on the battlefield. AI embraces coding, computer systems, and software that perform tasks based on human-like capabilities. Decisions based on algorithmic intelligence processing could lead to kinetic strikes on the wrong targets in the fog of war. The militarization of AI has created an insecurity known as the algorithm gap or AI knowledge gap where technologies won’t be able to keep up with the other.

Ghania Leila Khan, MS in Strategic Studies from NUST, is a researcher specializing in national security and strategic affairs.