Defense and Artificial intelligence: study on the evolution of the use of artificial intelligence technologies in defense

This paper uses network analysis tools to study the evolution of the intertwining of defense and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies over the past two decades. AI's development has brought about a profound change in the research sphere, in some cases altering the development of entire sectors. This disruptive power makes AI of pillar of the fourth industrial revolution. And indeed, AI has become a central component of many countries' defense policies The technology is also a central element of the unprecedented export control measures of the U.S. administration of October 2022 against China, with the aim of hindering the development of "force-multiplying" technologies for defense capabilities. Focusing our analysis on the evolution of these technologies in defense appears particularly interesting for several reasons: technological edge and adaptability is highly valued for defense material; decision-making often needs to be quick in a complex and evolving environment; high-end and customized product necessitates evolving scientific and technological capacities. After analyzing the evolution of AI technologies in the defense sector, we study the evolution in other sectors of the economy to compare with defense. Network analysis tools are applied to patent data extracted from the Orbit Intelligence and PATSTAT (European Patent Office) databases. Preliminary results show that the defense sector was one of the first to introduce AI into its innovation process. The results show an increase over time in the number of combinations of AI and defense technologies, alongside an intensification of the usage of such links to produce new patents.