Michael C. Horowitz

Michael Horowitz, former Pentagon deputy assistant secretary and current UPenn professor, breaks down the Anthropic–Pentagon rupture and its policy stakes. He walks through how models like Claude are used in military workflows, why a contract fight over surveillance language blew up, and what the trust breakdown means for future AI-state partnerships.

Michael Horowitz, a political scientist focused on military tech, and Josh Keating, a foreign affairs journalist, dig into how Iran’s cheap drones are reshaping war. They explore interceptor shortages, the high cost of stopping low cost attacks, regional escalation, underground drone production, and why future conflicts may hinge on cheaper defenses.

Henry Farrell, a political scientist on tech and geopolitics; Bryan Clark, a retired Navy officer and naval warfare analyst; Michael Horowitz, a defense policy scholar who rewrote Pentagon autonomy rules; and Emmy Probasco, a CSET fellow and former Navy officer on military AI. They discuss the U.S. use of low-cost drones in precise mass strikes. They debate regime decapitation risks, air-defense strain and stockpile depletion, and how large language models like Claude are being integrated into military systems.

Yalda Hakim, Lead World News Presenter at Sky News, and Michael C. Horowitz, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, dive into heavy global issues. They analyze Trump's meeting with Putin and its implications for Ukraine, discussing Trump's Nobel aspirations and Europe's struggle with the crisis. The duo also confronts Israel's military actions in Gaza and the tragic losses of journalists. Lastly, they explore how drone warfare is reshaping military strategies, highlighting the need for ethical considerations in this new age of conflict.

Shashank Joshi, a Defense editor at The Economist renowned for his Ukraine coverage, teams up with Michael Horowitz, a Penn professor and former defense official specializing in AI. They delve into Ukraine's battlefield prospects, debating political cohesion and defense capacity. The discussion turns to Trump's shifting stance on Putin and its implications. They also explore how AI, particularly through 'precise mass' tactics, revolutionizes modern warfare. The pair emphasize the incremental nature of AI advancements in combat and the enduring challenges in defense innovation.

Michael C. Horowitz, Director of Perry World House and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, explores the future of military strategy shaped by AI and autonomous weapons. He discusses the Replicator initiative, emphasizing a shift towards larger, cost-effective arsenals to counter threats like China. The conversation highlights ethical considerations in defense budgeting and the evolving dynamics of warfare. Horowitz argues for the critical balance between human involvement and technology, calling for reforms in software development amid modern conflicts like Russo-Ukrainian.

Laura Walker McDonald highlights the need for human control in warfare to protect civilians and ensure accountability. Michael C. Horowitz argues that AI can enhance compliance with humanitarian law and reduce emotional mistakes. Elliot Ackerman emphasizes the moral implications of war and the necessity for ethical leadership. Meanwhile, Jack Shanahan discusses the inevitability of autonomous systems and the importance of human oversight throughout the AI lifecycle. Together, they delve into the complex debate over the roles of humans and AI in modern warfare.

Fiona Cunningham, a Political Science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses her book on China’s nuclear strategy. Michael Horowitz, also from Penn and a former Defense official, co-hosts the conversation. They dive into how China balances military force with political goals without escalating to nuclear warfare. The guests also highlight China’s evolving defense strategies, including the significance of their 'no first use' nuclear policy and the development of advanced cyber and counter-space capabilities in response to U.S. actions.

Michael Horowitz, a former DoD official and current Penn expert on military technology, joins Lauren Kahn, a defense policy researcher at CSET. They delve into the complexities of AI in military operations, discussing its governance challenges and the pitfalls of drawing nuclear analogies. The conversation examines the transformative potential of AI, the nuances of its application in military workflows, and how historical lessons can inform current technology adoption. Ethical considerations and the impact of automation bias also feature prominently in this thought-provoking dialogue.

In this engaging discussion, Michael Horowitz, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania and expert on military technology, delves into how AI and emerging weaponry are transforming warfare. He highlights the concept of 'precise mass' and why adapting to these technologies is crucial for the Pentagon. Horowitz explains the historical context of military innovations, the importance of organizational capital, and how AI is set to revolutionize logistics and decision-making on the battlefield. He also raises concerns about human control in an era of increased autonomy.