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[2602.17729] Stop Saying "AI"
Summary
The paper argues for a more precise use of the term 'AI' in discussions, particularly in military contexts, to enhance clarity and understanding of associated risks and benefits.
Why It Matters
As AI technologies proliferate across various sectors, including military applications, vague terminology can lead to misunderstandings and mismanagement of risks. This paper highlights the need for specificity in discussions to better address the implications of different AI systems and their unique challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Critiques of 'AI' often lack specificity, leading to confusion.
- Different AI systems have unique limitations and challenges.
- Precision in language is essential for effective policy and debate.
- The military domain serves as a key example of the need for clarity.
- Broader implications exist for AI discussions across various fields.
Computer Science > Computers and Society arXiv:2602.17729 (cs) [Submitted on 18 Feb 2026] Title:Stop Saying "AI" Authors:Nathan G. Wood (1,2,3), Scott Robbins (4), Eduardo Zegarra Berodt (1), Anton Graf von Westerholt (1), Michelle Behrndt (1,5), Daniel Kloock-Schreiber (1) ((1) Institute of Air Transportation Systems, Hamburg University of Technology, (2) Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, (3) Center for Environmental and Technology Ethics - Prague, (4) Academy for Responsible Research, Teaching, and Innovation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, (5) Department of Philosophy, University of Hamburg) View a PDF of the paper titled Stop Saying "AI", by Nathan G. Wood (1 and 18 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Across academia, industry, and government, ``AI'' has become central in research and development, regulatory debates, and promises of ever faster and more capable decision-making and action. In numerous domains, especially safety-critical ones, there are significant concerns over how ``AI'' may affect decision-making, responsibility, or the likelihood of mistakes (to name only a few categories of critique). However, for most critiques, the target is generally ``AI'', a broad term admitting many (types of) systems used for a variety of tasks and each coming with its own set of limitations, challenges, and potential use cases. In this article, we focus on the military domain as a case study and pre...