Epistemic Delegation: Private AI Firms, Operational Knowledge, and the Future of Security Cooperation

A new concept called epistemic delegation describes how states rely on private AI firms to produce and interpret operational knowledge for military decisions, raising questions about security cooperation and accountability.

The role of Artificial Intelligence AI -enabled firms in security cooperation requires a concept that captures more than ordinary contracting. This article calls that concept epistemic delegation. Epistemic delegation occurs when states rely on private systems to produce, organize, and interpret the operational knowledge on which military decisions depend. The term does not imply that private firms replace commanders, governments, or … Read more https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/07/10/epistemic-delegation/ The post Epistemic Delegation: Private AI Firms, Operational Knowledge, and the Future of Security Cooperation https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/07/10/epistemic-delegation/ appeared first on Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University https://smallwarsjournal.com .