Trump calls for military to accelerate use of AI
Trump calls for military to accelerate use of AI
Publish Date: 2026-06-05 17:39:00
Source Domain: apnews.com
- President Donald Trump issued a memo emphasizing the acceleration of AI use by U.S. military and national security agencies while stressing the importance of protecting civil liberties and maintaining oversight over autonomous weapon systems.
- The memo addresses concerns and actions from various Cabinet members, including the secretaries of defense, homeland security, and others, to implement consistent use of AI aligned with civil liberties and constitutional protections.
- Trump’s directive also calls for a revision of current autonomous weapon systems policies, ensuring that AI continues to respect the chain of command and human oversight in military operations.
- It specifically prohibits AI use for activities such as censoring free speech, embedding ideological bias, or conducting unlawful surveillance against American citizens.
- The Defense Department’s increasing use of AI has faced scrutiny, especially regarding concerns over civilian rights and the potential misuse of AI in military applications like target identification and logistics management.
- AI’s use in conflicts, such as Israel’s recent war against militants, has raised alarms about the potential unintended consequences including civilian casualties, fueling broader debates on ethical AI use in warfare.
- Officials and military leaders, such as Adm. Frank Bradley of U.S. Special Operations Command, advocate for the dual benefits and caution regarding AI’s integration in military operations, emphasizing the need for human control and ethical considerations.
