Recent studies have revealed a troubling trend where numerous countries are modernising their nuclear weapons programmes by integrating artificial intelligence (AI). The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has conducted extensive research and issued a dire warning, indicating that nations are developing and deploying nuclear arsenals at an alarming rate.

SIPRI director Dan Smith emphasised the serious implications, stating, “The number of operational nuclear warheads is beginning to increase." He stressed the importance of never crossing a critical threshold, asserting, “The next step would be moving towards full automation. That is a step that must never be taken."

Smith elaborated on the profound dangers associated with fully automating nuclear weapons using AI. He warned, “If the decision to launch nuclear weapons is ever fully handed over to AI, we would be approaching true doomsday scenarios."

Experts say the idea of algorithms making life-and-death decisions on a global scale, rather than human judgment, poses an existential threat.

The SIPRI director acknowledged that the current rapid integration of AI into nuclear command and control systems could lead to significant problems over time. While AI can enhance surveillance, early warning systems, and data analysis, its use in the decision-making chain for nuclear launches introduces unacceptable risks. Human commanders possess empathy, ethical reasoning, and crisis de-escalation abilities that cannot be replicated by AI.

(With agency inputs)