In the last decade. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been at the centre of attention for its civilian and military applications. Even though nowadays it is referred to as "weak AI", due to its narrow range of functions, in the long-term AI has the potential to play a critical role in every aspect of National Security. Recognising this potential, NATO Member States have already started to invest in this technology and have incorporated it in their defence strategy.Its strategic importance leads several nations to develop AI for an array of mil-itary functions such as Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intel-ligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) and cyber operations as well as a variety of autonomous and semi-autonomous machines. This new technology has the potential to play a vital role in the acquisition and processing of Open-source Intelligence (OSINT) and the information available on the internet as the first filter for data that will be later evaluated by personnel. Thus, AI can mitigate the biggest hindrance relating to these fields of intelligence, which is the sheer amount of information that is available. The incorporation of AI in the decision-making process at every level of warfare (tactical, operational and strategic) can provide leadership with calculated input that is distanced from emotion and other judgement-affecting factors to which humans are susceptible. Furthermore, AI can be used to create simulations and models that allow for different strategies to be tested and evaluated. Taking into consideration the aforementioned as well as the momentum that AI is gaining globally, a multitude of ethical dilemmas emerge relating to its application.The objective of this paper is to analyse existing AI technologies as well as future technological developments, states' financial investments and the potential impact on the defence sector with regards to opportunities and vulnerabilities.
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