Cognitive Warfare: AI, False Realities, and the Laws of War with Gary Corn

AI and the modern information ecosystem are making reality harder to verify, and easier to weaponize. This week, Elisa Poteat is joined by Gary Corn, Program Director and Adjunct Professor of Technology, Law and Security at American University Washington College of Law, to discuss his recent article, “Cognitive Warfare: Generative AI, False Realities, and International Humanitarian Law.” Together, they explore how cognitive warfare has been used throughout history, how deepfakes and synthetic media could accelerate its effects, and what international humanitarian law can, and cannot, do to address the risks AI poses to civilians, truth, and modern conflict.Professor Gary Corn is Director of the Technology, Law & Security Program and an adjunct professor of cyber and national security law and the law of armed conflict at American University Washington College of Law.References:Corn, Gary P. “Cognitive Warfare: Generative AI, False Realities, and International Humanitarian Law.” American University Washington College of Law, 2025.Sun-tzu. The Art of War. Translated by Lionel Giles, Project Gutenberg, 1994.Video Series: Operation InfeKtion. The New York Times Opinion, 2018.The Law of Armed Conflict OverviewU.S. Constitution, Article IV: Relationships Between the States. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School.Gary Corn Articles of War Profile. Lieber Institute for Law & Warfare, United States Military Academy at West Point.NSLT, Ep. 339, "Unchecked AI and the Exploitation of Personal Data: National Security Implications with Margaret Hu and Davi Ottenheimer (Part 1)"NSLT, Ep. 411, "Russia’s War of Attrition: Massive Losses and Tiny Gains with Seth Jones"NSLT, Ep. 416, "The Drone Disruption: How Autonomous Systems Are Reshaping the Battlefield with Dawn Zoldi"