AI Revolutionizes Military Command Structures Dating Back to Napoleon

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize military command structures that have remained largely unchanged since Napoleon's time. Despite centuries of technological advancements, modern military staffs still resemble their 19th-century counterparts, struggling to adapt to new domains like air, space, and information warfare.

This U.S. Army command post, seen from a drone, is loaded with modern technology but uses a centuries-old structure. Col. Scott Woodward, U.S. Army

The Need for Change

Military headquarters have grown increasingly large to handle expanded information flows, leading to coordination challenges and vulnerability to modern threats like precision artillery and drones. Russia's "Graveyard of Command Posts" in Ukraine highlights the risks of static, oversized command centers.

AI Agents in Military Operations

AI agents—autonomous software powered by large language models—can automate routine tasks, compress decision timelines, and enable smaller, more effective command posts. These agents can parse doctrinal manuals, draft operational plans, and generate courses of action, accelerating military operations. Experiments, including those conducted at Marine Corps University, demonstrate how AI can enhance planning and decision-making.

This satellite image shows the electronic emissions of a brigade combat team training at Fort Irwin, Calif. The bright red areas are emissions from command posts. Col. Scott Woodward, U.S. Army

Designing the Future Military Staff

Researchers at the Center for Strategic & International Studies’ Futures Lab explored optimal designs for AI-augmented staffs. The proposed Adaptive Staff Model embeds AI agents within human-machine feedback loops, drawing on doctrine, history, and real-time data to evolve plans dynamically. This model outperformed alternatives in scenarios like joint blockades, firepower strikes, and joint island campaigns.