Iran's supreme leader calls for greater use of AI to strengthen security

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has urged increased investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology to bolster the country's security forces. Addressing National Police Week, Khamenei stressed the need for improvements in personnel, equipment, and technology, with a particular focus on AI for data analysis. He emphasized that a comprehensive strengthening of security forces, encompassing human resources, hardware, and software, would enhance their ability to carry out missions effectively.

Khamenei also commended Iran's security forces for maintaining order amidst repeated attacks from the US and Israel. He accused these nations of deliberately targeting police commanders and personnel, though he noted that these attacks had not hindered the forces' ability to fulfill their duties. Earlier this year, Iran had revealed plans to utilize AI in its military and security apparatus, even as the US and Israel launched strikes in late February, triggering a regional conflict.

Despite sanctions limiting access to advanced AI chips, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously used AI in domestically developed drones, including missiles capable of autonomously tracking moving targets. This demonstrated Iran's commitment to staying competitive in the global AI race. Iran aims to become one of the top 10 AI powers by 2032, with AI contributing 12% of its GDP.

The integration of AI into Iran's defense systems intensified following its first direct military confrontation with Israel in 2024. In April, Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari, the army's ground forces commander, described AI as "one of our priorities to maximize our defensive power." The US, too, has employed AI in its war against Iran.

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, highlighted that AI systems enable the rapid analysis of extensive data, allowing leaders to make swift decisions amid overwhelming information. He emphasized that while AI aids decision-making, the ultimate choice of striking or not lies with human leaders.

However, the US bombing of an elementary school in Minab on the opening day of the war – an incident that claimed over 150 lives, including numerous schoolgirls – raised concerns about AI's role in military operations. A September report by Bloomberg suggested that excessive reliance on AI tools, combined with outdated intelligence and imagery, contributed to the strike. The Pentagon's investigation into the attack has yet to release its findings.