US Vice President JD Vance has declared that decisions over life and death must be made by humans, not machines, as he voiced his primary concern about artificial intelligence: its potential to transform warfare. Speaking at a graduation ceremony for US Air Force cadets in Colorado, Vance urged the future officers to use technology to enhance their capabilities 'but never submit to it'.
Vance's Warning on AI in Warfare
The White House deputy emphasised the unique responsibility of military personnel, telling cadets to be 'jealous and selfish' about their role as decision-makers in conflict. He acknowledged that AI will inevitably change warfare, noting that it already has, but insisted that American warfighters must wage war justly, combining lethality with conscience and heart.
Vance, a Catholic, referenced a recent major document issued by Pope Francis, which called for a slowdown in the AI arms race and robust legal frameworks to govern the technology's development. The Pope had expressed concern that some autonomous weapons systems have advanced 'practically beyond any human reach to govern them'.
Broader Concerns Over AI
Vance's remarks come amid growing unease about AI's impact on both military and civilian life. In the UK Parliament, there have been warnings about the need to regulate advanced military technology, particularly with the increasing use of drones on battlefields. Meanwhile, tensions have emerged within the White House over President Donald Trump's sudden decision to withdraw an executive order on AI, reportedly due to industry concerns.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently faced boos from graduating University of Arizona students worried about job security when he discussed AI's far-reaching effects. Vance contrasted the typical graduate's experience with that of the Air Force cadets, stating, 'Almost none of them will have your responsibility, quite literally, (for) decisions over life and death.'
Moral Leadership in the Age of AI
Vance supported the Pope's call not to 'outsource the most important moral decisions to digital technology'. He stressed that what makes American warfighters unique is their commitment to waging war justly, a principle that requires human judgment. 'You are the ones who execute, you are the ones who lead on the battlefield,' he said. 'You are the ones who ensure that our lethality in war, which is amazing and necessary, it also co-exists with our heart and with our conscience.'
He concluded with a powerful appeal: 'If the warfare of the future is to live up to the moral values of our ancestors, decisions over life and death must be made by humans and not machines. So as AI transforms the battlefield ... I ask that you be jealous and selfish about your role as a decision maker in warfare. Use technology to make you better, but never submit to it. You are the masters of warfare, and both your minds, but also your hearts, are the opposite of artificial.'
