War by Algorithm

On this episode of Always at War, Courtney and Alex reveal the Department of War's newest scapegoat, Artificial Intelligence, and debate whether Congress will ever defend their constitutional power to declare war. First, they break down the technical distinction between LLMs like Claude and targeting systems like Palantir’s Project Maven, explaining how these tools are designed to maximize "target throughput" at the expense of civilian life.Next, they revisit the history of "revolutionary" technology in war, comparing the techno-utopian promises of the Vietnam era to the modern-day obsession with shortening the "kill chain."Finally, they examine the dangerous decay of Congress' constitutional authority over matters of war and peace and discuss the history of the War Powers Act—from the Nixon era to today’s conflicts in Cuba and Iran—and the possibilities and challenges of using this legislative vehicle to actually put a stop America's endless wars.###Why is America seemingly always at war? Join the Quincy Institute’s Courtney Rawlings and Alex Jordan as they expose the monied interests, outdated ideologies, and entrenched powers that have driven the U.S. to wage nearly 400 wars and interventions. They’ll be joined by journalists, advocates, and experts to uncover who profits from America’s endless conflicts, and to imagine how we can build a better, more peaceful U.S. foreign policy.Learn more about the Quincy Institute: quincyinst.orgContact the show: [email protected] art by Justin Hantz###Quincy Institute is an independent, nonprofit think tank. Help fund our research: https://quincyinst.org/donations/Read our reporting: https://ResponsibleStatecraft.org   Twitter: https://x.com/QuincyInstTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/quincyinst   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quincyinst  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com//quincyinst  Website: https://quincyinst.org