Algorithms of Armageddon: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Future Wars

by George Galdorisi, Sam J Tangredi USN (Ret.)

It is unclear if U.S. policy makers and military leaders fully realize that we have already been thrust into an artificial intelligence (AI) race with authoritarian powers. Today, the United States’ peer adversaries—China and Russia—have made clear their intentions to make major investments in AI and insert this technology into their military systems, sensors and weapons. Their goal is to gain an asymmetric advantage over the U.S. military. The implications for our national security are many and complex. Algorithms of Armageddon examines this most pressing security issue in a clear, insightful delivery by two experts. Authors George Galdorisi and Sam J. Tangredi are national security professionals who deal with AI on a day-to-day basis in their work in both the technical and policy arenas. Opening chapters explain the fundamentals of what constitutes big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. They investigate the convergence of AI with other technologies and how these systems will interact with humans. Critical to the issue is the manner by which AI is being developed and utilized by Russia and China. The central chapters of the work address the weaponizing of AI through interaction with other technologies, man-machine teaming, and autonomous weapons systems. The authors cover in depth debates surrounding the AI “genie out of the bottle” controversy, AI arms races, and the resulting impact on policy and the laws of war. Given that global powers are leading large-scale development of AI, it is likely that use of this technology will be global in extent. Will AI-enabled military weapons systems lead to full-scale global war? Can such a conflict be avoided? The later chapters of the work explore these questions, point to the possibility of humans failing to control military AI applications, and conclude that the dangers for the United States are real. Neither a protest against AI, nor a speculative work on how AI could replace humans, Algorithms of Armageddon provides a time-critical understanding of why AI is being implemented through state weaponization, the realities for the global power balance, and more importantly, U.S. national security. Galdorisi and Tangredi propose a national dialogue that focuses on the need for U.S. military to have access to the latest AI-enabled technology in order to provide security and prosperity to the American people.

Genres: Artificial Intelligence, Politics, War, Audiobook

248 pages, Hardcover

Published March 12, 2024

About the author

George Galdorisi is a career naval aviator and writer. His thirty years of active duty service included four command tours and five years as a carrier strike group chief of staff. He is the Director of Strategic Futures and Technical Assessments at the Navy's Information Warfare Center Pacific in San Diego, California. He has been writing for decades and it is the ultimate “flow” experience for him.

In addition to his recent Rick Holden thrillers published by Braveship Books (The Coronado Conspiracy and For Duty and Honor), he has written twelve books distributed by mainstream publishers, including several New York Times bestselling novels in the rebooted Tom Clancy’s Op-Center series, including Out of the Ashes, Into the Fire, Scorched Earth, and Dark Zone. With his longtime collaborator, Dick Couch, he coauthored the New York Times best seller, Tom Clancy Presents: Act of Valor, the novelization of the Relativity Media number-one rated movie. He is also the author of The Kissing Sailor, which proved the identity of the two principals in Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous photograph; as well as over 400 articles in professional journals and other media.

George has received a number of national and international writing awards, including: the Navy League of the United States Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement, the U.S. Naval Institute General Prize Essay Contest, the Surface Navy Association Literary Award, the Navy League of Australia's Annual Essay Competition, the Naval Helicopter Historical Association Literary Award, and the Military Writers Society of America Silver Medal Award, among others.

Other than writing thrillers, George likes nothing more than connecting with readers. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter, and learn more about his books, blogs and other writing on his website: http://www.georgegaldorisi.com/ - especially his “Writing Tips,” – which offer useful advice for all writers from established authors to future best-selling writers.

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors' purpose of this book is to start a national dialog around AI and the need for national policies and programs. The focus is primarily the military use of AI, but also the commercial implementation of AI as the technologies involved are dual use - meaning both military and civilian use. The book is written with the purpose of enabling anyone to understand what is at stake and where we are currently WRT the technology and it's use globally. Essentially the genie is out of the bottle and we will be forced to make decisions or let those decisions be made for us by the world around us.

Much like the nuclear age we are faced with a disruptive technology which will create a paradigm shift in our lives. And much like the nuclear age we are being forced to implement this new technology militarily before we have really understood the impact and discussed the policies required to safely implement. This is a result of our adversaries, who don't have the same concerns, militarily implementing the technology in their intelligence, command and control, and weapon systems. The longer we wait to have a national dialog we will loose the ability to plan and act and will end up reacting to the technology. Not a good place to be. A book that should be read by anyone interested, those in politics, tech - especially digital privacy, and defense contractors.

[Tom Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

US Military use of AI - time to get serious.

First of all, Algorithms of Armageddon is a very well written and engaging book that explains AI by drawing on concepts from history, art and philosophy that is a great primer for those new to understanding AI and entertaining for us in the field. There are many “I didn’t know that”, and “that’s a cool way to look at it” vignettes throughout. The advent of AI challenges us to “think about how we think” in juxtaposition to “how computers think” and the authors do a marvelous job on this topic. We are taken on a building block journey beginning with AI concepts, continuing with military considerations and international AI development to the threshold of a world where international power dynamics will be dominated by uses of AI, or AI itself, depending on your viewpoint of the man-machine interaction. The authors provide the solid foundation to then challenge the reader to consider where this is all going. Given that they also consider “algorithms of peace”, it is interesting that they named the book “Algorithms of Armageddon”. This book is a wakeup call from the perspective that while our captains of industry are pouring billions into developing AI for commercial purposes, our national military-industrial complex is in bondage to cold war thinking that is continually profitable for entrenched industries. The U.S. is falling behind the military technology that will clearly dominate conflicts of the future. As a result, we may find that we are unable to defend ourselves. This book makes that case very clearly.

[Gay Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well written book gave me an informative, engaging and disturbing reading experience. It made me aware of the increasing international competitiveness to win the AI arms race using algorithms that nullify human interference in highly deadly weapons. These AI weapon systems can seek and engage targets without human involvement once the weapon is launched. The significant limitations of precision weapon software to distinguish between military and civilian targets is alarming.
Algorithms of Armageddon reminded me of a Biblical verse in Matthew 24:22 "If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved" - without God's intervention, humanity would face catastrophic destruction with no survivors. Highly recommended.

[Chris Vernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty level headed review of the application of AI in the military. AI is here now and is being used by the military, past experience shows technological advantages can be decisive. Makes some interesting points about the speed and quality of decision making, partially the OODA loop (observation, orientation, decision, and action). This is not a fantasy of robots taking over but addresses the risks associated with humans using AI to do bad things to other humans.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

B: An essential background work for understanding where we are in the impact of Artificial Intelligence on our daily life, and future conflicts. The impacts of AI in totalitarian societies today as well as their actions to influence our perceptions. And no, it can’t be stopped only recognized and adapted to.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great review of the current literature on the topic.

[Jonah Bock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Galdorisi and Tangredi provide a concise yet insightful glance into the military application of AI. The book is approachable and engaging for those like myself with little more than a rudimentary understanding of AI and its place in the modern world. Each chapter builds on the ones preceding it, allowing the reader to digest the content throughout.

The book offers important, if not occasionally unique, insights into the what of military AI, but more importantly the why and its implications. Beyond discussing the benefits for the United States—as well as the potential downfalls—the book positions itself as a clarion call for an aggressive national AI strategy in order to counter the threats superpowered by AI in China and Russia.