University of Kwazulu-Natal

Blair Maddock Ferrie Author At The Defence Horizon Journal

Bonisiwe Shabane
-
blair maddock ferrie author at the defence horizon journal

Abstract: AI companions are not just synthetic friends—they are fast becoming ideal disinformation delivery systems. Built on predictable code, designed to please, and primarily used by socially isolated individuals, these apps create perfect conditions for manipulation. This is a low-cost, high-reach threat vector that can remain undetected until it is too late. What begins as… Read more → Abstract: AI companions are not just synthetic friends—they are fast becoming ideal disinformation delivery systems. Built on predictable code, designed to please, and primarily used by socially isolated individuals, these apps create perfect conditions for manipulation.

This is a low-cost, high-reach threat vector that can remain undetected until it is too late. What begins as emotional dependency can end in stochastic violence, all while appearing harmless. Problem statement: How to prevent radicalisation when it occurs one-on-one, in private, with an AI designed to be agreeable? So what?: Governments and defence alliances, such as NATO, need to stop treating AI companions as fringe technology. They must regulate them, monitor vulnerabilities, and take pre-emptive counter-disinformation policy seriously—before they are weaponised at scale. The concept of disinformation has always been that it catches up with technology; in the ongoing race between sword and shield, disinformation remains at the cutting edge.[1] Rather than reacting to this threat, proactively...

Disinformation’s goal is to degrade civil processes, or manufacture mass unrest, everything from as minor as not voting to terror attacks.[2] The result is a desire not to defend their country or view their... The rise of AI has created new attack vectors and enabled the dissemination of disinformation at unprecedented volume.[3] Dissemination methods range from rudimentary, simple, and easy to defeat to complex set-piece operations.[4] AI disinformation... Disinformation’s goal is to degrade civil processes, or manufacture mass unrest, everything from as minor as not voting to terror attacks. 🔴 ANNOUNCEMENT 🔴 I’m proud to share that my memoir, Defective Redcoat: Why I Stand, is currently in the editing phase. This deeply personal work chronicles my journey as a late-diagnosed autistic individual, a veteran, and a survivor of institutional trauma within the Canadian Armed Forces. It explores masking, resilience, abuse, faith, and what it means to reclaim your voice when every structure around you demands silence.

The piece shown here is a tufted self-portrait of the soul—a symbolic representation of the fragmentation and reconstruction of identity. It features: A trench knife and a pen—tools of war and storytelling. Military red, worn deliberately to reclaim the uniform that tried to consume me. The word MADDOG, once a taunt, now a banner of defiance and survival. Symbols of faith, fragmentation, and the internal “committee” that helped me endure. Defective Redcoat is not just a memoir.

It is a refusal to disappear quietly. It is a message to all those still silenced by trauma: You are not alone. It's a breathtaking piece with deep symbolism. It has been an incredible privilege to watch you create this Masterpiece Abstract: Artificial Intelligence is transforming warfare on land, in the air, and above all—for this paper—at sea. AI is not only enhancing non-kinetic dimensions, such as information dominance, cyber operations, and decision-making processes, but is also amplifying the effectiveness of kinetic means.

Recent conflicts have demonstrated how AI-enabled systems are used to deter, degrade, and… Read more → Abstract: Artificial Intelligence is transforming the functioning and interaction of weapon systems and changing how battles are fought. That said, there are still many unresolved questions regarding the safety and security of AI systems. The core concern is that military organisations must adopt a multifaceted approach to effectively manage AI-associated risks, combining technical measures with… Read more → Abstract: Explosives and pyrotechnics play a critical role in modern military technology. Recent advancements in nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and 3D additive manufacturing are transforming the development, applications, and safety of these technologies.

This paper examines how these disruptive technologies shape the future of explosives while addressing the challenges of their ethical application. Special attention is… Read more → Abstract: The progressive integration of artificial intelligence (AI) transforms military command across doctrinal, procedural, and cultural dimensions. AI reshapes the balance between centralisation and decentralisation across command levels. Using Col. John Boyd’s OODA Loop as a generic model of the military decision-making process (MDMP), it is possible to see how AI influences each step of… Read more →

Abstract: Hybrid warfare integrates both military and non-military tactics, leveraging AI, cyberspace, and the information realm as force multipliers. Cyberspace and the information realm serve as a domain and battlefield, while AI accelerates decision-making and disinformation. Modern surveillance fosters a perception of a “transparent battlefield,” yet raw data is not actionable intelligence and understanding adversarial… Read more →

People Also Search

Abstract: AI Companions Are Not Just Synthetic Friends—they Are Fast

Abstract: AI companions are not just synthetic friends—they are fast becoming ideal disinformation delivery systems. Built on predictable code, designed to please, and primarily used by socially isolated individuals, these apps create perfect conditions for manipulation. This is a low-cost, high-reach threat vector that can remain undetected until it is too late. What begins as… Read more → Abstra...

This Is A Low-cost, High-reach Threat Vector That Can Remain

This is a low-cost, high-reach threat vector that can remain undetected until it is too late. What begins as emotional dependency can end in stochastic violence, all while appearing harmless. Problem statement: How to prevent radicalisation when it occurs one-on-one, in private, with an AI designed to be agreeable? So what?: Governments and defence alliances, such as NATO, need to stop treating AI...

Disinformation’s Goal Is To Degrade Civil Processes, Or Manufacture Mass

Disinformation’s goal is to degrade civil processes, or manufacture mass unrest, everything from as minor as not voting to terror attacks.[2] The result is a desire not to defend their country or view their... The rise of AI has created new attack vectors and enabled the dissemination of disinformation at unprecedented volume.[3] Dissemination methods range from rudimentary, simple, and easy to de...

The Piece Shown Here Is A Tufted Self-portrait Of The

The piece shown here is a tufted self-portrait of the soul—a symbolic representation of the fragmentation and reconstruction of identity. It features: A trench knife and a pen—tools of war and storytelling. Military red, worn deliberately to reclaim the uniform that tried to consume me. The word MADDOG, once a taunt, now a banner of defiance and survival. Symbols of faith, fragmentation, and the i...

It Is A Refusal To Disappear Quietly. It Is A

It is a refusal to disappear quietly. It is a message to all those still silenced by trauma: You are not alone. It's a breathtaking piece with deep symbolism. It has been an incredible privilege to watch you create this Masterpiece Abstract: Artificial Intelligence is transforming warfare on land, in the air, and above all—for this paper—at sea. AI is not only enhancing non-kinetic dimensions, suc...