THE WEAPONISATION OF AI AND THE COLLAPSE OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

Abstract

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into military systems represents a paradigm shift in warfare, posing unprecedented challenges to the foundational framework of international humanitarian law (IHL). This research paper examines the critical juncture between the weaponisation of AI and the potential collapse of IHL principles. Through a qualitative analysis of scholarly literature and policy documents, the study investigates how lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) erode the core IHL tenets of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. The findings reveal a tripartite crisis: first, algorithmic decision-making is ill-suited for the contextual judgments IHL requires; second, the autonomy of these systems creates a profound accountability gap, complicating legal attribution; and third, fragmented state practice and inadequate governance mechanisms have led to a regulatory impasse. The study concludes that the current trajectory of AI weaponisation, if left unchecked by a binding international regime mandating meaningful human control, threatens to render IHL obsolete, with dire consequences for global security and civilian protection.