Weaponising the mind: AI, cyberspace and the future of psychological operations

Abstract Psychological operations have historically played a decisive role in shaping the outcome of conflicts, leveraging media and ideology to influence minds rather than battlefields. As warfare transitions into a multidomain environment, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as both a catalyst and a complicating factor in modern influence strategies. This paper traces the evolution of psychological warfare from World War II (WWII) to present-day disinformation campaigns, highlighting how adversaries exploit democratic transparency to undermine public trust. Drawing upon historical case studies and recent developments – including election interference, deepfake technologies and AI-enhanced sentiment analysis – the research demonstrates how AI-driven psychological operations now operate across physical, digital and emotional boundaries. The authors argue that the integration of cyberpsychology and AI into the psychological operations toolkit marks a strategic inflection point. Without a coherent, ethically grounded doctrine, liberal democracies risk ceding influence to adversaries who wield digital propaganda with increasing sophistication.