Operating AI in the Gray Zone: Drawing Clear Lines Before They Blur

Artificial intelligence's most significant impact is not on the battlefield but in the "gray zone" of competition between peace and war. Nations are increasingly using AI for influence operations, economic coercion, and cyber campaigns, blurring the lines of conflict. A proposed policy framework, inspired by Michael Walzer's "Spheres of Justice," suggests that AI's application should be tailored to the distinct moral logic of each instrument of national power: diplomatic, informational, military, and economic. This prevents the inappropriate use of AI capabilities across different domains, such as using a military targeting model for political influence. The United States must establish clear boundaries for the responsible use of AI in this gray zone to prevent the erosion of norms that keep great power competition stable.