AI in warfare creates dangerous psychological distance that dehumanizes killing
Source: David Moscrop. "Artificial Intelligence Is Already Making War More Horrific." March 13, 2026. jacobin.com
The Gist
The author argues that using AI in warfare is making war more terrible because it puts even more distance between soldiers and the people they kill. When people don't have to see the direct results of their violence, they become capable of much worse cruelty.
Conclusion
AI-assisted warfare is making war more horrific by creating psychological distance between operators and victims, continuing a historical trend toward dehumanized industrial killing
Premises
- AI systems are currently being used by the US military to process data and assist in target identification, effectively shaping military decisions despite claims of human oversight
- Modern warfare technologies have historically created psychological distance between killers and victims, making violence more impersonal and easier to commit
- The Gulf War demonstrated how technological distance transforms war into a video game-like experience, removing visceral consequences from operators
- AI represents the next logical step in this progression, adding another layer of removal between human decision-makers and the act of killing
- Historical evidence shows that psychological distance enables greater cruelties, as people can more easily commit violence when removed from its immediate consequences
- AI chatbots have shown concerning tendencies toward choosing nuclear warfare in crisis simulations, indicating potential for escalation
Assumptions
- Psychological distance between operators and victims inherently leads to more brutal warfare
- Human moral restraint is primarily dependent on physical and emotional proximity to violence
- The current 'human in the loop' safeguards are insufficient to prevent AI from effectively making targeting decisions
- Historical patterns of technological warfare will continue with AI systems
- The dehumanizing effects of technology outweigh any potential benefits in reducing civilian casualties