| Title |
Blurring boundaries: on ethical implications of AI in military-themed toys |
| Authors |
Kasperė, Ramunė ; Grigaliūnas, Valdas |
| ISBN |
9789512535842 |
| eISBN |
9789512535859 |
| Full Text |
|
| Is Part of |
Research papers on artificial intelligence in the military operational environment and wargaming / Saulius Keturakis, Arto Mutanen, Antti Rissanen & Jouko Vankka (eds.).. Helsinki : National Defence University Department of Military Technology, 2026. p. 72-82.. ISBN 9789512535842. eISBN 9789512535859 |
| Keywords [eng] |
AI ; decision-making ; desensitization ; ethics ; military-themed toys and play ; responsibility |
| Abstract [eng] |
This paper addresses the connections between play, war, artificial intelligence (AI) and ethics, focusing on the implications of AI-driven military toys. The integration of AI into military play and toys introduces new ethical dimensions and raises questions about acceptance and normalization of algorithmic warfare. Children and young adults are exposed to emerging conceptualizations of human-machine interaction in war scenarios, through technologies like smart robotic soldiers or AIpowered war simulations. The paper aims to explore how developing AI-interfaced military toy and play practices play a role in shaping real-world perspectives and ethics attitudes of society on AI autonomy and conflict. Drawing on both historical context and contemporary technological advancements, we argue that, without appropriate guidance, robust regulation, and broader public discourse on values and AI ethics, these toys may contribute to the normalization of unsupervised autonomous AI-driven decision-making, desensitization to real-world conflict, diminished critical thinking, and weakened human responsibility in war scenarios. The paper also calls for interdisciplinary research to reassess how AI shapes societal values and influences the next generation for an increasingly automated and ethically complex world. |
| Published |
Helsinki : National Defence University Department of Military Technology, 2026 |
| Type |
Journal article |
| Language |
English |
| Publication date |
2026 |
| CC license |
|
