AI in the Indian Armed Services

An Assessment

Abstract

This article surveys the extent to which service doctrines as well as the Joint Doctrine of the Indian Armed Forces (JDIAS) capture and
define the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Indian military. The analysis captures the limited view and non-existent view of AI
within service and tri-service doctrine. A gap has emerged between the services’ doctrinal pronouncements and the actual use of AI in some form in the three branches of the military. AI come in two variants at least—semi-autonomous and autonomous systems. This ensuing assessment is only a partial critique of how service doctrine sees or ignores AI, the problem relating to the use of technology and doctrine is not unique to the services, but extends to other areas.