Vance Tells Air Force Academy Graduates Humans Must Retain Life-and-Death Decisions in AI Warfare

U.S. Air Force Academy that decisions over life and death in warfare must be made by humans and not machines. Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Colorado, Vance said the main risk he sees with artificial intelligence is how it will alter warfare. He told the cadets to use technology to improve performance but never to surrender decision-making authority.

Vance stressed that American service members wage war justly because they, not algorithms, execute and lead on the battlefield. He said this human role preserves both lethality and conscience in combat. He added that the burden of such decisions rests on the graduates and that future warfare must continue to reflect the moral values of previous generations.

Vance, who is Catholic, cited a recent major document issued by the Pope that called for cooling competition in AI development and for robust legal rules governing the technology. The text expressed concern that some autonomous weapons systems have advanced practically beyond any human reach to govern them.

The speech comes as the Pentagon continues to integrate AI into military operations. " — JD Vance, May 2026 (The Independent) Vance urged the new officers to remain "jealous and selfish" of their role as decision makers and to ensure that AI serves rather than supplants human judgment.