Daniel Trusilo interviewed by ZEIT Online on the ethics of AI in warfare

In a recent interview with ZEIT Online, St.Gallen Collegium Fellow Daniel Trusilo reflects on the growing role of artificial intelligence in military operations and the ethical challenges it raises. Trusilo, a former U.S. Army officer who now researches the ethics of AI in armed conflict, explains that AI is already widely used in areas such as intelligence analysis, logistics, and decision-support systems in warfare. 

In the conversation, he stresses that while AI can enhance military capabilities and potentially reduce harm to civilians, it also raises fundamental ethical questions, particularly when it comes to decisions involving human lives. Trusilo argues that meaningful human judgment and responsibility must remain central to the use of such technologies, even as AI systems become increasingly integrated into military operations. 

The interview also addresses current debates on regulating military AI and the challenges democratic societies face in balancing ethical standards with geopolitical competition.

The full interview, titled “Kein Militär würde sagen, es gebe keine sinnvolle Anwendung für KI”, can be accessed via die Zeit Online or the HSG Online Library.