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21 students
AI and Autonomous Weapons
Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Weapons: Ethics, Strategy, and Battlefield Intelligence
Created byBenedict Kioko Mwololo
Last updated 8/2025
English
English [Auto],
What you'll learn
- Understand the core technologies behind autonomous weapons and military AI
- Analyze ethical dilemmas surrounding machine-led decision-making in warfare
- Evaluate international legal frameworks and accountability challenges
- Assess strategic implications of AI in global security and conflict escalation
- Explore real-world applications of AI in threat detection and battlefield intelligence
- Propose responsible innovation strategies for future military AI development
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Course content
6 sections • 22 lectures • 3h 40m total length
Requirements
- This course is designed to be inclusive, thought-provoking, and beginner-friendly. You do not need a technical background in artificial intelligence or military strategy to benefit from it. Instead, we welcome learners from diverse fields—policy, ethics, international relations, technology, law, and beyond.
- No Prior Experience Required You do not need: • Coding or programming skills • Military or defense background • Advanced knowledge of AI systems or robotics
- Recommended (but not required) Skills & Interests To get the most out of this course, it helps if you: • Are curious about the intersection of technology, ethics, and global security • Enjoy critical thinking and philosophical inquiry • Have basic familiarity with international relations or current global affairs • Are open to engaging with controversial and complex topics
- This course is built to guide you from foundational concepts to advanced debates. Whether you're a student, policymaker, technologist, or simply a curious learner, you’ll find the content structured to support your growth—step by step. We explain technical terms, provide real-world examples, and offer reflection prompts to deepen your understanding.
Description
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the battlefield—and raising profound ethical and strategic questions. Welcome to AI and Autonomous Weapons: Ethics, Strategy, and Battlefield Intelligence! You're about to embark on a fascinating journey into the future of warfare. This course is designed to challenge your thinking, expand your understanding, and equip you with the tools to critically assess the role of AI in modern conflict.This course explores the intersection of cutting-edge AI technologies and autonomous weapons systems, guiding learners through the moral dilemmas, legal frameworks, and geopolitical consequences of machine-led warfare.
From drones and loitering munitions to predictive threat detection and real-time decision-making, we’ll examine how AI is reshaping military operations. You’ll learn how algorithms influence target selection, surveillance, and command systems, and what it means when machines make life-or-death decisions. Explore the moral dilemmas, strategic risks, and real-world applications of artificial intelligence in modern warfare and defense systems.We’ll also dive into the global arms race, the risks of escalation, and the challenges of accountability when autonomous systems fail.
Whether you're a student of international relations, a tech enthusiast, a defense analyst, or simply curious about the future of warfare, this course offers a balanced, thought-provoking journey into one of the most urgent topics of our time. No prior technical background is required—just a willingness to engage critically with the ethical and strategic dimensions of AI in combat.
This course was designed and delivered by Brigadier (Rtd.) Benedict Kioko Mwololo, drawing on 37 years of distinguished military service, deep expertise in international, law, political economy, defense and security studies, and hands-on experience in global strategic analysis. His experience include leadership roles in UN peacekeeping, aviation, and defense education at the National Defence University–Kenya. To ensure structural coherence and pedagogical clarity, AI tools were used in the development phase to assist with drafting outlines and assessment questions. All content has been rigorously reviewed, fact-checked, and personalized by the instructor—anchored in verified data, field experience, and strategic analysis. No AI-generated voice, video, or unvetted material is used.
Who this course is for:
- This course is designed for thinkers, changemakers, and curious minds who want to explore the ethical, strategic, and societal dimensions of emerging technologies—especially in contexts of peace, security, and gender equality.
- Ideal Participants: • Policy professionals working in international development, peacebuilding, or defense • Academics and researchers in gender studies, peace and conflict, or tech ethics • Civil society advocates focused on human rights, gender justice, or responsible innovation • Tech developers and strategists interested in the social impact of AI and autonomous systems • Students and lifelong learners eager to understand how technology intersects with global justice
- Why It Matters: If you’ve ever asked, “How can we ensure technology serves humanity—not harms it?” or “What does gender-responsive peacekeeping look like in the age of AI?”—this course is for you.