evidence: The Military Value of AI Those aspects of war in which time is of the essence and advanced weapons are up against each other prompt many of the scare stories about an AI-dominated future. The scenarios usually involve machines deciding to go on a killing spree while their notional human controllers take cover. One such alarming possibility appeared in a recent report, quickly denied, describing a simulation in which a drone guided by AI used ‘highly unexpected strategies to achieve its goal’ and ended up (virtually) killing its operator. According to the story, the drone was advised to destroy an enemy air defence system but turned on any sources of interference with its mission, which eventually included an operator telling it not to attack. After this story created a minor storm (especially when it was assumed an actual operator had been killed), it was explained that this was no more than a ’thought experiment’ and not even an actual simulation.