BY SHANT ISPENDJIAN
I am not a proponent of war or violence, but in a region fraught with tension, Armenia cannot afford to fall behind in the artificial intelligence arms race.
In the 21st century, warfare is no longer just about boots on the ground; it’s increasingly defined by the algorithms powering military operations. Armenia, a country long at odds with its neighbor Azerbaijan, faces the everyday reality of military conflict.
With Azerbaijan leveraging its vast oil revenues to fund military advancements, Armenia finds itself struggling to keep up, suffering losses on the battlefield and even witnessing ethnic cleansing of the indigenous Armenian population of Nagarno-Karabakh. To protect its national security and ensure its survival, Armenia must embrace a game-changing solution: integrating AI and automation into its military strategy. This is not a call for escalation but a necessary step to level the playing field and defend against existential threats.
The economic disparity between Armenia and Azerbaijan is stark. While Armenia’s defense budget for 2025 is projected at $1.7 billion, Azerbaijan’s reaches a staggering $3.9 billion. Armenia cannot compete with its neighbor in terms of sheer military spending. However, Armenia has an ace up its sleeve: its growing tech sector. By leveraging its tech expertise, Armenia can level the playing field without matching Azerbaijan’s superior military spending.
Armenia’s tech industry has experienced impressive growth over the past decade. A MarketWatch article recently spotlighted Armenia’s flourishing tech sector, noting that a new tech hub is forming. Armenia has already made strides in military technology, such as developing unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance. Nevertheless, to secure its future, Armenia must go further, fully embracing AI to improve decision-making and reduce the need for human labor in dangerous situations.
AI offers a significant advantage in decision-making by processing vast amounts of data rapidly and in real-time. In the chaos of battle, timely, accurate information can be the difference between survival and defeat. AI systems can analyze satellite imagery, intercept communications, and process surveillance data with unmatched speed.
These systems can identify threats, predict enemy movements, and suggest optimal strategies, allowing commanders to react swiftly and decisively. A 2023 U.S. Department of Defense report emphasized that AI adoption will make warfighting capabilities “more effective,” equipping military leaders with tools to make faster, better-informed decisions. For Armenia, AI’s ability to deliver real-time battlefield insights could be a game-changer, enabling commanders to outmaneuver Azerbaijan’s forces despite being outspent and outnumbered.
Another advantage of AI is its ability to reduce human exposure to danger. AI-powered technologies, such as drones and tactical ground robots, can perform tasks that would otherwise put soldiers at significant risk.
These systems can navigate hazardous terrain, defuse explosives, and conduct reconnaissance missions in enemy territory—tasks that would endanger human lives. For Armenia, a nation with a smaller military compared to Azerbaijan, minimizing the loss of life is not just a strategic consideration but a moral imperative.
Every life saved is a critical win. By delegating dangerous tasks to AI technologies, Armenian soldiers can focus on more strategic roles, ensuring they conserve energy for mission-critical decisions. This increases operational efficiency and allows Armenia to optimize its limited military manpower, enabling it to compete more effectively against Azerbaijan’s larger forces.
AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s transforming modern warfare today. The world’s major powers, including the United States, China, and Russia, have all invested heavily in AI for military applications. From autonomous drones to data processing, AI allows nations to enhance their military capabilities while reducing human error. Countries like Israel and South Korea are already using AI to develop autonomous weapons systems that can identify, track, and destroy targets with minimal human input. If Armenia wants to remain competitive, it must follow suit.
Traditional military spending alone will not be enough to protect Armenia’s people and sovereignty in the face of Azerbaijan’s aggressions. AI provides Armenia with a unique opportunity to level the playing field, empowering its military with better decision-making tools and reducing the need for human soldiers in high-risk situations. By investing in AI technologies, Armenia can ensure its security and survival. The time to act is now.
Shant Ispendjian, an alumnus of the Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, is currently a first-year student at Brown University.
