Public Perceptions and Trust Dimensions of Military Autonomous Vehicles in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

The development of autonomous vehicle technologies over the past decade has opened up new strategic, economic, and security policy opportunities for both the civilian and defense sectors. Technological innovations have also led to significant changes in the structure of warfare: unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), self-driving land vehicles, and artificial intelligence-supported systems have become increasingly prevalent in armed conflicts in recent years. These systems not only perform reconnaissance, logistical, or support functions, but are also increasingly involved in actively targeting and autonomously reaching the target area. The development and application of military autonomous systems therefore deserve special attention, as it raises a number of new types of risks and challenges in the areas of cybersecurity, ethical standards, international humanitarian law, and national security. The aim of this research is to map social attitudes and trust levels regarding the use of autonomous vehicles for military purposes. The study examines the opinions of different demographic groups on an empirical basis, paying particular attention to trust in technological developments, assessments of the safety of transport and combat systems, and legal and ethical considerations related to military applications of AI. The results show that the social acceptance of military autonomous systems is closely related to public trust in artificial intelligence and automated systems, as well as the perception of risks associated with them. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the economic and social impacts of technological innovations for defense purposes and lays the foundation for future research examining the integration of autonomous systems into military infrastructure, taking into account regulatory, security policy, and social aspects.