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AI and Warfare: A Rational Choice Approach

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  • Atin Basuchoudhary

    (Virginia Military Institute)

Abstract

Artificial intelligence has been a hot topic in recent years, particularly as it relates to warfare and military operations. While rational choice approaches have been widely used to understand the causes of war, there is little literature on using the rational choice methodology to investigate the role of AI in warfare systematically. This paper aims to fill this gap by exploring how rational choice models can inform our understanding of the power and limitations of AI in warfare. This theoretical approach suggests (a) an increase in the demand for moral judgment due to a reduction in the price of AI and (b) that without a human in the AI decision-making loop, peace is impossible; the very nature of AI rules out peace through mutually assured destruction.

Suggested Citation

  • Atin Basuchoudhary, 2025. "AI and Warfare: A Rational Choice Approach," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 51(1), pages 74-86, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:easeco:v:51:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41302-024-00280-7
    DOI: 10.1057/s41302-024-00280-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pedro Dal Bo & Guillaume R. Frochette, 2011. "The Evolution of Cooperation in Infinitely Repeated Games: Experimental Evidence," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(1), pages 411-429, February.
    2. Atin Basuchoudhary & James T. Bang & John David & Tinni Sen, 2021. "Identifying the Complex Causes of Civil War," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-030-81993-4, March.
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