The Misguided Effort to Regulate Military AI: No New IHL Needed
Abstract
Keith Dear and Magdalena Pacholska argue that humans are responsible and accountable when delegating the use of lethal force to machines and these actions are regulated by existing international humanitarian law. There is no need for new laws or guiding principles. International discussion on lethal autonomous weapons systems and AI decision support systems are unnecessary. The real concern is artificial general intelligence and jus ad bellum, which should be the focus of UN and international discussions, specifically on AI’s military and security applications and effects.
Fields of Study & Subjects
International Law and Human Rights
Digitalization
Law
and Regulation
Military Strategy and Technology
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The RUSI Journal
- Volume
- 171
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 82–94
- Publication date
- 2 January 2026
- Language
- EN