In this episode of Orion Talks, Suat Cubukcu sits down with Dr. Zachary Zwald, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston, to explore the critical intersection of advanced technology and international security. Dr. Zwald, an expert in AI, decision-making, and security, shares insights from his current research. The conversation begins with a discussion of how public perception of AI changes when the technology is applied to military decision-making, especially in critical areas such as nuclear command and control.

Dr. Zwald delves into the unique challenges of assigning accountability when AI makes errors on the battlefield—whether the blame should fall on humans or the systems themselves. He also examines key differences in public trust between AI and human decision-makers in military contexts, particul ...