DEFCON AI Air Force general Anthony Cotton, the man in charge of the United States stockpile of nuclear missiles, says the Pentagon is doubling down on artificial intelligence — an alarming sign that the hype surrounding the tech has infiltrated even the highest ranks of the US military. As Air and Space Forces Magazine reports, Cotton made the comments during the 2024 Department of Defense Intelligence Information System Conference earlier this month. Fortunately, Cotton stopped short of promising to hand over the nuclear codes to a potentially malicious AI. “AI will enhance our decision-making capabilities,” he said. “But we must never allow artificial intelligence to make those decisions for us.” Algorithmic Deterrence The US military is planning to spend a whopping $1.7 trillion to bring its nuclear arsenal up to date. Cotton revealed that AI systems could be part of this upgrade. However, the general remained pointedly vague about how exactly the tech would be integrated. “Advanced systems can inform us faster and more efficiently,” he said at the conference. “But we must always maintain a human decision in the loop to maximize the adoption of these capabilities and maintain our edge over our adversaries.” “Advanced AI and robust data analytics capabilities provide decision advantage and improve our deterrence poster,” he added. “IT and AI superiority allows for a more effective integration of conventional and nuclear capabilities, strengthening deterrence.” Vagueness aside, nuclear secrecy expert and Stevens Institute of Technology expert Alex Wellerstein told 404 Media that “I think it’s safe…General in Charge of Nuclear Weapons Says Heck, Let's Add Some AI