By Brett J. Goldstein
Publication Date: 2026-01-06 05:00:00
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly essential for national security decision-making. Militaries around the world already rely on AI models to review satellite images, assess adversary capabilities, and generate recommendations for when, where, and how to use force. As these systems evolve, they promise to reshape the way states respond to threats. But advanced AI platforms also threaten to undermine the deterrence that has long been the overall foundation of U.S. security strategy.
Effective deterrence requires a country to be credibly able and willing to inflict unacceptable harm on an adversary. AI strengthens some of the foundations of this credibility. Better information, faster assessments, and more consistent decision-making can enhance deterrence by communicating more clearly to adversaries a country’s defense capabilities and its apparent determination to use them. But adversaries can also exploit AI to undermine these goals: they can…
