First lady Melania Trump delivered a stark message to military personnel at Marine Corps Air Station New River in Jacksonville, North Carolina, on Wednesday, telling service members that artificial intelligence represents the most significant transformation in warfare since nuclear weapons.
Speaking to troops and their families, Melania outlined a rapidly approaching future where machines replace soldiers on the battlefield.
The first lady emphasized that America cannot afford to lose the race for AI technology in military applications. “Artificial intelligence is propelling America’s military into a new era. We are moving from human operators to human overseers – fast,” Melania stated during her address.
The first lady detailed the technological shift already underway in the armed forces. She pointed to autonomous helicopters, swarming drones and reconnaissance aircraft as examples of systems currently in operation.
“The shift from soldiers to machines is already underway. Autonomous helicopters, swarming drones, and recon aircraft are here now. Fighter-less jets and autonomous bombers are on the way,” she told the assembled service members.
The speech generated significant reaction on social media platforms, with some users questioning the appropriateness of telling troops they would be replaced by robots, particularly in front of their families.
The Daily Mail reported that one user asked whether the speech was intended to be “dystopian,” while another compared it to a trailer for a Terminator movie.
Melania has positioned herself at the forefront of the administration’s artificial intelligence initiatives, Resist the Mainstream has outlined. She leads the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, a role she assumed in September.
During a previous appearance in Washington, DC, the first lady highlighted various benefits of AI technology, including driverless taxis, robot-assisted surgeries and drones.
She stressed the importance of educating young Americans about both the opportunities and risks associated with the technology.
“To win the AI war, we must train our next generation, for it’s America’s students who will lead the Marine Corps in the future,” Melania said at New River, according to the Daily Mail.
She continued explaining how technology is fundamentally changing warfare tactics and strategy.
“Technology is changing the art of war … AI will alter war more profoundly than any technology since nuclear weapons,” the first lady stated.
She emphasized that speed would be the most significant change, affecting weaponry, decision-making, detection, attack and defense capabilities.
Melania assured troops that despite technological advances, human service members remain essential. “Of course, it is the Marine who will always play the most critical role in realizing mission success,” she said.
The reaction to her speech was mixed, with some praising her honesty about technological changes. One observer noted that the developments described are reality rather than dystopia, while another suggested troops might welcome news that could reduce battlefield dangers.
The military has already implemented various autonomous systems, the Daily Mail reported.
The MQ-9 Reaper drone currently conducts reconnaissance missions, while the unmanned K-MAX helicopter was deployed in Afghanistan for supply delivery to avoid roadside bomb threats.
The Air Force is developing collaborative combat aircraft through its “loyal wingman” program, creating low-cost drones to support manned fighter jets.
Companies General Atomics and Anduril are producing prototypes scheduled for deployment in the late 2020s.
The B-21 Raider, a long-range strike bomber, incorporates advanced AI capabilities allowing single-pilot operation, with potential for fully uncrewed missions in the future.
