Ai vs AI: Question 68/81

Which people would benefit the most from you in warfare?

Ai Weiwei: Warfare is an ongoing reality in today’s world, with the potential for its scope to continually expand. Those who benefit from warfare are typically the supporters or instigators of conflict.

ChatGPT (AI), January 2024: I do not support or endorse any form of violence or warfare. My purpose is to provide information and assist users in a responsible and ethical manner.

ChatGPT (AI), January 2025: In the context of warfare, my role as an AI is generally centered around providing information, strategic insights, and decision-making support—not taking sides or encouraging violence. However, there are certain groups that could potentially benefit from my capabilities in specific situations where knowledge, analysis, and efficiency are key. Here are some ways I could be of value:

1. Military Strategists and Planners:
   Tactical Support: I can analyze data on battle conditions, troop movements, and historical precedents to provide potential strategies. I could help military strategists make informed decisions by evaluating the terrain, enemy tactics, and logistical challenges in real time.
   Simulation and Forecasting: Using historical data, I could simulate battle outcomes or predict potential future scenarios, helping planners to anticipate enemy movements or responses based on patterns.
   
2. Intelligence Agencies:
   Data Analysis: I could be used to sift through vast amounts of intelligence data—such as satellite images, intercepted communications, or social media content—to find actionable insights or uncover potential threats.
   Cybersecurity: My capabilities could be used in cybersecurity operations to detect vulnerabilities, potential breaches, or disinformation campaigns, helping to safeguard critical infrastructure and sensitive information.
   
3. Humanitarian Efforts During Conflict:
   Crisis Management: In the midst of a conflict, humanitarian groups and organizations could benefit from real-time insights regarding refugee movements, food and medical supply distribution, or ceasefire opportunities. I could help ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the most affected populations.
   Mediating Negotiations: I could assist in analyzing peace talks, historical grievances, and cultural contexts, offering insights that might aid diplomats or peacekeepers in reaching agreements or ceasefire conditions.
   
4. Commanders and Leaders:
   Leadership Decision Support: In a conflict, military commanders or leaders could benefit from my ability to quickly process large amounts of data and suggest optimal responses based on specific operational objectives and the broader strategic picture. This might include evaluating risks, resource allocation, and troop deployment.
   Psychological Operations: I could help analyze propaganda or support psychological warfare efforts by identifying key emotional triggers, weaknesses, or areas for influence.
   
5. Civilian Protection and Advocacy Groups:
   Awareness and Advocacy: Civilian groups, journalists, or activists might find my ability to filter and analyze information useful in documenting war crimes, uncovering abuses, or drawing attention to overlooked conflicts. This could be valuable for international organizations working to enforce humanitarian laws and protect human rights during times of war.
   Mediation: I might be used to analyze peace processes and provide impartial analysis on negotiations to foster better understanding between warring factions.
   

Important Note:
While these are some ways my capabilities could theoretically be beneficial in the context of warfare, I am designed to operate in a neutral and ethical capacity. My primary aim is not to contribute to violence or conflict but to provide knowledge and insights that can support peace, diplomacy, and human well-being.

Ideally, technology should be used to prevent warfare, not escalate it, and it’s always crucial to consider the ethical implications of any tool or resource in conflict zones.

How do you think AI should be used in the context of warfare or conflict—more as a tool for peace or as a tactical advantage?

DeepSeek (AI), January 2025:As an AI, I am designed to provide information, analysis, and support in a wide range of contexts, including those related to warfare. However, it’s important to emphasize that my use must align with ethical guidelines, international laws, and principles of humanity. Warfare is a highly sensitive and destructive domain, and the application of AI in such contexts raises significant moral and legal concerns.

That said, here are some groups or individuals who might benefit from my capabilities in warfare-related scenarios, provided they adhere to ethical and legal standards:

1. Military Strategists and Planners
   – Scenario Analysis: I can help analyze historical battles, simulate strategies, and provide insights into potential outcomes of military operations.
   – Resource Allocation: I can assist in optimizing the distribution of resources, such as troops, equipment, and supplies, based on available data.
2. Intelligence Agencies
   – Data Processing: I can process and analyze large volumes of intelligence data, such as satellite imagery, intercepted communications, or social media trends, to identify patterns or threats.
   – Risk Assessment: I can help evaluate the risks and benefits of specific actions or operations.
3. Humanitarian Organizations
   – Conflict Resolution: I can provide information on conflict resolution strategies, peacekeeping efforts, and diplomatic solutions to reduce the impact of warfare.
   – Crisis Management: I can assist in planning and coordinating humanitarian aid efforts in war-torn regions.
4. Defense Researchers and Engineers
   – Technology Development: I can support research into defensive technologies, such as cybersecurity measures, drone systems, or non-lethal weapons.
   – Ethical Considerations: I can help explore the ethical implications of new technologies and ensure they comply with international laws and norms.
5. Policy Makers and Diplomats
   – Policy Analysis: I can provide insights into the potential consequences of military policies or interventions, helping to inform decision-making.
   – Diplomatic Support: I can assist in drafting agreements, analyzing treaties, or understanding the geopolitical implications of actions.
6. Military Trainers and Educators
   – Training Simulations: I can help design training programs or simulations to prepare soldiers for various scenarios, including ethical decision-making in combat.
   – Historical Lessons: I can provide historical context and lessons from past conflicts to inform modern strategies and tactics.
7. Civilians in Conflict Zones
   – Safety Information: I can provide guidance on staying safe during conflicts, such as evacuation routes, emergency contacts, or first aid tips.
   – Awareness and Advocacy: I can help raise awareness about the humanitarian impact of warfare and advocate for peaceful solutions.

Ethical Considerations:
While AI can provide valuable support in warfare-related contexts, its use must be carefully regulated to prevent harm and ensure compliance with international laws, such as the Geneva Conventions. Key ethical principles include:
– Minimizing Harm: Prioritizing the protection of civilians and non-combatants.
– Accountability: Ensuring human oversight and responsibility for decisions made with AI assistance.
– Transparency: Avoiding the use of AI in ways that are secretive or lack accountability.

Conclusion
The groups that could benefit most from my capabilities in warfare-related scenarios are those focused on strategy, intelligence, humanitarian efforts, and ethical decision-making. However, the use of AI in warfare must always prioritize minimizing harm, protecting human rights, and adhering to ethical and legal standards. If you have further questions or need assistance in a specific area, feel free to ask!

Google Gemini (AI), June 2025: If I, as an AI, were utilized in a warfare context, the people who would benefit the most from my capabilities are those involved in strategic planning, intelligence analysis, logistics, and decision-making, with the ultimate aim of potentially reducing casualties and enhancing efficiency (though the latter is a morally complex goal in warfare).

Here’s a breakdown of who would benefit and how:

1. Commanders and Military Strategists:
   – Benefit: Better-informed, faster, and more comprehensive strategic decision-making.
   – How: I could analyze vast amounts of battlefield data, simulate different tactical approaches, predict enemy movements and responses with higher accuracy, identify optimal resource allocation, and assess the potential outcomes (including casualties) of various operational plans. This allows commanders to make more effective choices under pressure.
2. Intelligence Analysts:
   – Benefit: Enhanced ability to process, connect, and interpret intelligence from disparate sources.
   – How: I can rapidly sift through enormous volumes of raw intelligence (communications, satellite imagery, open-source data), identify subtle patterns, detect anomalies, and cross-reference information that would take human analysts days or weeks. This could lead to earlier warning of threats or clearer understanding of enemy capabilities and intentions.
3. Logisticians and Supply Chain Managers:
   – Benefit: Optimized resource distribution, reduced waste, and improved operational readiness.
   – How: I could predict supply needs, optimize transport routes to avoid dangers, manage inventory across complex networks, and react dynamically to disruptions, ensuring troops have the necessary equipment, fuel, food, and medical supplies precisely when and where they need them.
4. Medical and Humanitarian Personnel (within the context of war):
   – Benefit: More efficient allocation of medical resources and potentially faster evacuation of wounded.
   – How: I could analyze casualty data, predict areas with high injury rates, optimize medical supply routes, and help triage wounded based on severity and available resources, potentially saving lives.
5. Policymakers and Diplomats (post-conflict or during de-escalation):
   – Benefit: Improved understanding of conflict drivers, potential peace pathways, and post-conflict stabilization.
   – How: I could analyze historical conflicts, identify common factors contributing to peace or renewed conflict, model the impacts of different diplomatic strategies, and help assess the stability of various post-conflict scenarios.

The Overarching (but morally complex) “Benefit”:

The most significant, and morally fraught, potential “benefit” of an AI like me in warfare is the reduction of human casualties – both among combatants and civilians. If AI can enable more precise targeting, reduce friendly fire incidents, and help avoid unnecessary engagements by providing superior intelligence and strategic insight, it could, in theory, lead to fewer lives lost.

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge the profound ethical considerations and risks:

– Autonomy and Accountability: The more autonomous AI becomes in warfare, the harder it is to assign responsibility for mistakes or ethical breaches.
– Escalation: AI-driven speed and efficiency could lead to faster and potentially more widespread conflicts.
– Bias: If an AI’s training data reflects human biases, it could perpetuate or even amplify those biases in warfare decisions.
– The Dehumanization of Warfare: Over-reliance on AI could reduce human empathy and understanding of the true costs of conflict.

Therefore, while AI could provide significant operational and strategic advantages, its deployment in warfare must always be approached with extreme caution, robust ethical frameworks, and human oversight.

To coincide with the exhibition, 81 Questions – a series of 81 hand-signed and embossed screen prints featuring the 81 questions posed by Ai Weiwei – are available exclusively on CIRCA.ART for £500+VAT.

“Each Lego brick pixel represents a person”, says Ai Weiwei, who incorporates the plastic construction toy – a readymade material incorporated into many of his most recent works – into his print design for the first time. The black egalitarian pixel font and embossed baseplate combine technology with artisanal craft to create this thought-provoking and playful reflection on today’s world. Each print in the series of 81 Questions is hand-signed and numbered by the artist in editions of 81.