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Does Trump want to wage an AI-powered war? – podcast

The Guardian

ENRICHED

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Date Published
3 Mar 2026
Priority Score
4
Australian
Unknown
Created
3 Mar 2026, 08:00 am

Authors (4)

Description

Madeleine Finlay speaks to technology journalist Chris Stokel-Walker, who explains why he thinks this moment represents a dangerous turning point for the use of artificial intelligence in conflicts

Summary

This podcast episode delves into the escalating use of artificial intelligence in military conflicts, specifically examining alleged instances of AI deployment by Donald Trump's White House for regime change operations and strike planning. It highlights a critical juncture where AI capabilities are being integrated into warfare, raising concerns about unintended consequences and the ethical boundaries of such technologies. The discussion points to a dangerous trend in conflict escalation driven by AI advancements, underscoring the need for robust governance and safety considerations in military AI applications.

Body

Does Trump want to wage an AI-powered war? – podcast00:00:0000:00:00In the past three months, Donald Trump’s White House has reportedly used AI twice to effect regime change – once in its capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and more recently to help plan the strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The most recent strikes coincided with the end of the Pentagon’s relationship with the AI company Anthropic over concerns its AI tool Claude was being used for purposes the company had explicitly prohibited. The government swiftly signed a new contract with Open AI. To find out what this means for the use of AI in forthcoming conflicts, Madeleine Finlay speaks to technology journalist Chris Stokel-Walker. He explains why he thinks this moment represents a dangerous turning point.Support the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Photograph: Kent Nishimura/ReutersExplore more on these topicsScienceScience WeeklyDonald TrumpIranAI (artificial intelligence)Weapons technology