Artificial Intelligence in War and Peace: Experts Warn of New Threats

At the AI Summit 2025 in Warsaw, experts explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping culture, security, and modern warfare.

AI and Human Thinking

Speakers warned that reliance on AI could weaken core human abilities such as symbolic and abstract reasoning, as technology increasingly replaces daily mental tasks.

Changing Notions of Understanding

Others argued that humans themselves rarely “understand” reality fully, relying on habits and analogies. From this view, AI may not diminish skills but instead transform how we think.

Cultural Shifts Ahead

The debate suggested that widespread AI adoption could alter education, creativity, and collective intelligence, raising questions about the long-term direction of human culture.

Preparing for General AI

Participants discussed the possibility of artificial general intelligence (AGI), highlighting its potential to rival human problem-solving and force a rethinking of social and ethical norms.

AI as a Weapon and a Shield

Panels emphasized that AI is already embedded in defense systems, from analyzing vast datasets to guiding anti-aircraft responses and improving battlefield logistics.

Lessons from Conflict Zones

Israel is implementing AI through a long-term digital transformation, while Ukraine demonstrates how frontline improvisation can rapidly create effective AI tools under pressure.

A Growing Cyber Threat

Experts highlighted the emergence of “prompt injection” malware—systems that interact with AI models in real time, making detection and defense increasingly difficult.

NATO’s Coordination Challenge

Ensuring that AI-enabled defense systems across member states can work together seamlessly was identified as one of the biggest hurdles for collective security.

The Double-Edged Sword of AI

Artificial intelligence is both an intelligence tool and a weapon, with every new advance quickly becoming a potential target for adversaries.

The Race Against Ethics

While AI accelerates the pace of military and societal change, legal and ethical frameworks lag behind—raising the question of whether governance can keep up.

This article is made and published by Asger Risom, which may have used AI in the preparation