Part 12/16:
The threat of superintelligent AI and autonomous weapons raises serious ethical questions: should machines be given lethal authority? Could they operate ethically? And what happens if these systems are exploited by rival nations like China or Russia, who are investing heavily in AI warfare?
The Power Dynamics and Secrecy
Throughout, Jacobsen emphasizes how secrecy maintains the balances of power. The "plausibly deniable" operations—whether assassinations, covert interventions, or technological development—are designed to keep strategic advantages hidden from the public and even political leaders. She discusses how presidents may be kept in the dark about certain operations, paralleling Eisenhower's fears about the military-industrial complex and the "deep state."