JD Vance warns future Air Force officers that AI could transform warfare forever

Vance warned graduating cadets at the United States Air Force Academy not to let artificial intelligence make 'life-and-death' military decisions as he delivered a commencement speech focused on the future of warfare and America’s global threats. Speaking to the Class of 2026 in Colorado Springs, Vance praised the cadets for entering military service during what he called an entirely new era of conflict, where technology is rapidly transforming the battlefield. 'Artificial intelligence will change warfare in ways we can barely predict,' Vance said during his address. 'But no machine should ever be trusted with life-and-death decisions that belong to human beings.'

Delivering a stark warning about the perils of AI, Vance also said the speed of technological change creates serious risks because governments often move slower than private-sector innovation. 'If the warfare of the future is to live up to the moral values of our ancestors, decisions over life and death must be made by humans and not machines,' Vance added.

The vice president mixed serious warnings with lighter moments throughout the ceremony, joking with cadets early in the speech and drawing laughter from the crowd before returning to national security concerns. In one instance, he was seen giving chest pumps to the cadets. He praised the graduates for choosing military service during a politically divided period in the United States and encouraged them to stay focused on the mission above politics. 'The country needs your courage, your discipline, and your willingness to serve something bigger than yourselves,' Vance said.

The vice president received a symbolic gift from graduating cadets during the United States Air Force Academy commencement ceremony. Vance appeared appreciative as he accepted the gift and used his speech to praise the graduates for choosing military service during what he described as a politically divided period in the United States. Vance’s comments come as the Pentagon, China, and Russia all accelerate investments in AI-driven defense systems. 'I ask that you be jealous and selfish about your role as a decision maker in warfare. Use technology to make you better, but never submit to it. Your minds, but also your hearts, are the opposite of artificial.'

During the address, Vance did not portray AI solely as a danger. Instead, he described it as a technological reality that the next generation of military officers must learn to navigate responsibly. 'Pope Leo XIV, in a recent document, encouraged us as human beings not to outsource the most important world decisions to digital technology, and I want to endorse that sentiment,' said Vance, who is Catholic.