AI, warfare and augmented cities

The diffusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is transforming both the urban environment and warfare. Thus, cities are becoming “surface of attacks” in the context of “AI augmented warfare”. But Cities are also being “AI augmented”. Thus, they support the diffusion of the competing Chinese and US AI technologies. This means that nowadays, the interactions between AI, war and urban environments are changing the geopolitical status of cities.

Since the siege of Troy by the Greek city-states three thousand years ago, cities have played a major role in geopolitics. But today, cities, from capitals of all sizes to megacities, are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and the accompanying revolution in warfare.

Since 2022 and the start of the war in Ukraine, AI-enhanced combat drones and missiles have been attempting to reach cities that are themselves connected to cyberspace and integrated into AI technology networks. Their digital and AI infrastructure literally transforms them into “augmented cities” as well as into surfaces of vulnerability, while simultaneously being a major element of their resistance, resilience, and development.

Read more at Small Wars Journal