At the recent Potomac Officers Club AI Summit, Seekr’s Chief Technology & AI Officer, Dr. Stefanos Poulis, took the stage to discuss the critical role of autonomous AI in modern military operations. As AI rapidly reshapes warfare, national security and defense leaders must balance the need for AI innovation with ethical and operational safeguards. Here are the key insights from his keynote, “Autonomous Agents in Military Operations: Transforming the Battlefield”.

1. AI is a force multiplier, not a replacement for humans

The debate over AI Agents in military applications often raises concerns about fully autonomous weapon systems. Dr. Poulis emphasized Seekr’s commitment to AI that is ethical, controllable, and explainable—a principle he believes is essential for building trusted AI solutions for the Department. Trustworthy AI can start as a decision-support tool that supports human warfighters, creating a decision advantage.

2. Speed matters, but so does trust

Adversaries like China have explicitly stated their goal to dominate AI warfare by 2030, and their rapid integration of commercial AI into defense systems exemplifies their commitment to this goal. According to Dr. Poulis, China’s focus on autonomous drone swarms, electronic warfare, and AI-enabled command systems pose a challenge. However, the U.S. holds a strategic edge in ethical AI development and human-machine collaboration, ensuring trust, control, and sustainability in military AI applications, which is important in the long-term.

3. AI alignment is an obligation

Autonomous agents must have the ability to adapt to dynamic environments and subjectively apply prescribed rules of engagement (ROEs). Unlike commercial AI trained on vast, often biased, or unknown data, military-grade AI must be fine-tuned to mission-specific principles, ensuring accurate and contextually relevant decision-making aligned with ROEs for often very complex scenarios. Dr. Poulis highlighted that AI used in combat must be able to adjust to evolving battlefield conditions and dynamic information, while adhering to legal and ethical frameworks. Seekr’s AI-Ready Data Engine and patented platform actively align models to defined principles and rules, and embeds ROE guardrails into GenAI. This makes AI trustworthy and allows model decisions to be audited and contested.

4. Trust and transparency: The cornerstones of military AI

To integrate AI into DoD strategies, trust is paramount. Seekr’s AI solutions prioritize integration of human-in-the-loop oversight, ensuring that autonomous systems operate with varying levels of human control based on the operational context and risk levels of each unique use case. Additionally, explainability is critical—AI-driven decisions must be auditable and understandable, allowing operators to analyze pre- and post-mission behavior and correct errors in real time. Seekr scores model performance and allows users to inspect decisions made by models, at the data source level, so errors can be corrected and performance improved.

5. Accessibility and reliability in degraded environments

Modern warfare is increasingly fraught in contested, degraded, denied, intermittent, and limited (DDIL) environments. Dr. Poulis stressed the importance of resilient AI that can function under cyber threats, electronic warfare interference, and limited connectivity. Seekr is leading the charge in ensuring that AI remains dependable even at the tactical edge, enabling warfighters to use low-to-no-code AI interfaces that empower faster decision-making that is still human-led.

Conclusion

Artificial Intelligence will continue to transform modern warfare; however, AI solutions must do so in a way that aligns with U.S. military ethics, operational needs, and security priorities. Dr. Poulis reinforced that trust, transparency, and adaptability will define which nations successfully integrate AI into their defense strategies.

As U.S. adversaries rapidly advance their autonomous capabilities, the U.S. must ensure its AI remains mission-ready, secure, and aligned with warfighter needs. Seekr stands at the forefront of this mission, developing AI solutions that empower rather than replace human decision-making.