Finding AI Faces in the Moon and Armies in the Clouds: Anthropomorphising Artificial Intelligence in Military Human-Machine Interactions

Abstract

Why are we likely to see anthropomorphisms in military artificial intelligence (AI) human-machine interactions (HMIs)? And what are the potential consequences of this phenomena? Since its inception, AI has been conceptualised in anthropomorphic terms, employing biomimicry to digitally map the human brain as analogies to human reasoning. Hybrid teams of human soldiers and autonomous agents controlled by AI are expected to play an increasingly more significant role in future military operations. The article argues that anthropomorphism will play a critical role in future human-machine interactions in tactical operations. The article identifies some potential epistemological, normative, and ethical consequences of humanising algorithms for the conduct of war. It also considers the possible impact of the AI-anthropomorphism phenomenon on the inversion of AI anthropomorphism and the dehumanisation of war.