3 ms·
Does MAD apply to AI-centered weapons? I thought the Cold War's MAD environment had more to do with the advantages that a nation would have if it were to preemp
by dantillberg 9y ago
Does MAD apply to AI-centered weapons? I thought the Cold War's MAD environment had more to do with the advantages that a nation would have if it were to preemptively attack, because the weapons act so fast over such long distances.
- Tyrek 9y agoMAD is predicated on the fact that ICBMs take time to arrive at their target, and are effectively unstoppable. The idea is that if nuclear state A was to target nuclear state B, B would be able to launch their own arsenal at A before B was obliterated. Additional methods of delivery such as sub nukes, strategic bombers, Carriers with nukes, etc. further reinforce the concept as B would be able to retaliate even after its destruction. Now, the modern context has weakened MAD somewhat, because it's strictly an interpretation of nation-state level nuclear conflict. With the proliferation of (plausibly deniable) non-state actors in the 21st century, the concept breaks down as it makes it much harder to 'attribute' a target to blanket nuke in response.