Human–AI Collaboration in Combat

Enhancing Military Effectiveness Through Human–Machine Teaming

Publisher: Ambient Stratagem

Author: John Blamire

Date : May 2025

“The real opportunity is not smarter machines—but smarter humans, augmented by machines.” — Paul Daugherty, Human + Machine

In an era marked by mounting global instability, declining confidence in traditional alliances and the return of great power confrontation, military advantage hinges not merely on hardware or personnel but on the fusion of both through intelligent, adaptive systems.

This white paper explores the strategic imperative for Human–AI Collaboration in Combat. Offering a grounded yet forward-looking assessment of how human-machine teaming can enhance operational effectiveness, lethality, and survivability across all domains of warfare.

As the US commitment to European defence becomes increasingly contingent, and NATO cohesion faces internal and external pressures, sovereign defence capabilities must evolve rapidly. The battlefield of the future will not be won by autonomous machines acting in isolation, nor by unaided human decision-making. It will be shaped by human operators empowered by embedded AI, capable of making faster, better-informed decisions even in communications-degraded or electronic warfare (EW)-contested environments.

Drawing on lessons from programs such as the U.S. Department of Defense’s Project Maven, as well as insights from the RAND Corporation and leading technologists like Paul Daugherty, this white paper argues that ambient AI—not autonomy—is the key enabler of next-generation military advantage.

“Machines are for answers. Humans are for questions.” — Kevin Kelly, Founding Executive Editor of Wired

To read the full downloadable white-paper: Human–AI Collaboration in Combat Enhancing Military Effectiveness Through Human–Machine Teaming, please click on the link below 👇

https://ambient-stratagem.ghost.io/content/files/2025/05/Human-AI-Collaboration-in-Combat-2.pdf