THE LONG VIEW

BERLIN, 26 MAY — The silent consensus across nine nations now confirmed: AI may serve in war, but not command it. Survey data from China, Germany, and the United States reveals a populace permissive—so long as lethal autonomy remains shackled. The hum of data centers in Hanover, the flicker of terminal lights in Shanghai, the dry static of Pentagon servers—all now part of the war machine’s nervous system. Yet resistance flares not at surveillance, nor at targeting aids, but at the moment the human hand slips from the lever. Hawkish minds favor broader use; those who trust AI’s promise rally behind it, even as risks loom larger. Strangely, perceived danger correlates with support—perhaps in the belief that only mastery can prevent catastrophe. But should the threshold of full autonomy be crossed, this fragile truce may dissolve into revolt. The next deployment will test not just code, but conscience.