From The Green Notebook How Robotics and AI Will Transform Warfare and the Future of Human Conflict with George M. Dougherty
Military strategist and author George M. Dougherty joins Joe to unpack how robotics, AI, and precision weaponry are reshaping the future of warfare—and what history can teach us about navigating this transformation.
From his book Beast in the Machine, George traces the roots of military robotics back over a century and shows how concepts like remote-controlled systems and autonomous weapons aren’t new at all—they’ve simply advanced with technology. Together, he and Joe explore the implications of universal precision, weapon–target asymmetry, and what it means for maneuver warfare in an era where small drones can neutralize tanks.
In this episode, Joe and George explore:
- Why today’s robotics and AI revolution mirrors the onset of mechanization in World War I
- How “universal precision” is disrupting maneuver warfare and creating a new no man’s land
- The concept of weapon–target asymmetry: why cheap drones can outmatch billion-dollar platforms
- The role of networks, ISR, and electromagnetic warfare in shaping the kill chain
- Historical lessons—from Tesla’s 1898 robot to Kursk’s remote-controlled vehicles—that frame today’s challenges
- The ethical and societal stakes of democratizing lethal technology
- Why leaders must avoid over-empowering AI and remain smarter than the algorithms they use
Whether you’re a junior officer rethinking tactics or a senior strategist wrestling with AI’s role in warfare, this episode offers a sobering yet hopeful look at how leaders can outthink adversaries and shape the future fight.
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Red Threadx is a team of industry leaders and veterans. As a follow-on to the conversation, Joe Byerly will join George Dougherty and a panel of experts at the Red Thread House during the AUSA Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. on 14 October 2025. The invitation-only event will explore Beast in the Machine and the ethics of killing in war, alongside critical topics such as artificial intelligence, contested logistics, layered protection, and 21st-century command and control. To learn more about attending, contact info@theredthreadx.com