VP Vance addresses AI ethics to Air Force Academy cadets

Vice President JD Vance addressed the graduating class of the U.S. Air Force Academy on Thursday, delivering a commencement speech that centered on the ethical challenges posed by artificial intelligence in modern warfare. The event at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs saw approximately 931 cadets receive their diplomas before entering active duty in the Air Force or Space Force.

During his address, Vance expressed deep concern about the role of AI on the battlefield, urging the future officers to maintain human judgment over life-and-death decisions. He stated that his primary worry is how AI will change warfare. Vance advised the graduates to use technology to enhance their capabilities but never submit to it, emphasizing that they must be jealous and selfish about their role as decision-makers. He argued that for future warfare to uphold moral values, critical choices must remain with humans, not machines.

The vice president's remarks aligned with a recent Vatican document on AI issued by Pope Leo XIV, which Vance referenced. The papal document calls for robust legal frameworks and expresses concern that some autonomous weapons systems are advancing beyond human governance.