In Episode 189 of the AIAW Podcast, we’re joined by Carl Heath, Senior Researcher and Research Lead at RISE, for a conversation about how AI is changing the war in Ukraine and what it tells us about the future of warfare, security, and democracy. From autonomous drones and AI-assisted battlefield intelligence to cyberattacks, deepfakes, bot networks, and influence operations, we’ll explore how AI is accelerating conflict across both the physical and information domains. Drawing on Carl’s work in security design, digital resilience, psychological defence, and his experiences in Ukraine, we’ll discuss what Europe can learn from Ukraine’s rapid technological adaptation, how democracies can protect truth and human agency in an era of synthetic media, and what happens to accountability, human judgment, and empathy as warfare becomes increasingly automated.
