The age of AI warfare has arrived, and speed will determine victory - opinion

The age of AI warfare has arrived, and speed is the critical determinant of victory, according to an opinion piece in The Jerusalem Post. The focus is shifting from whether AI will replace human commanders to how it is fundamentally altering military decision-making and operations across all battlefield echelons.

Modern warfare generates an overwhelming volume of information at speeds and complexities that surpass human cognitive abilities. The primary challenge is no longer information collection but understanding it before its operational value diminishes. This dynamic system requires commanders to leverage AI for cognitive augmentation, reducing overload and compressing decision times to focus on uniquely human aspects of command.

Israel's defense community, alongside recent operational experiences in Ukraine, highlights two complementary AI revolutions. The first occurs within command headquarters, where AI helps process vast, multi-source data streams to provide a coherent view of reality. The second revolution is at the tactical edge, enabling faster responses.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has launched "Hoshen," a five-year plan to promote AI, robotics, and new technologies. This initiative underscores the principle that the force capable of seeing, understanding, deciding, and acting first will hold the decisive advantage in contemporary conflicts. AI's role is not to replace commanders but to enhance their decision environment and operational execution.