Officers' Perceptions on Cyberwarfare Enhanced with Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in both cyberwarfare and conventional warfare is increasing, as is the debate over its ethical acceptability. At the same time, technological development is shaping our perceptions of the character of war. Military decision-makers play a central role in the development and employment of artificial intelligence and cyber power in warfighting. To understand the ethical considerations surrounding the use of these emerging technologies, it is vital to examine military decision-makers’ perceptions of the topic. This paper presents the results of surveys conducted among students of the Finnish General Staff Officer Course in 2023 and 2025. The surveys specifically aimed to evaluate officers’ attitudes toward the acceptability of employing artificial intelligence and developing cyber warfare capabilities within military operations. The study sought to clarify how officers conceptualise these topics within military thinking and how this understanding shapes future cyber warfare. The main results indicate that officers strongly support using artificial intelligence for demanding military tasks, provided human involvement in decision-making (Human-on-the-Loop) is retained. Respondents were sharply divided on the likelihood of war occurring solely in cyberspace in the near future. Overall, military necessity remains the main consideration shaping attitudes toward AI's military use.