AI-Enhanced Cyber and Information Warfare: A Comparative Analysis of U.S. and PRC Capabilities, Doctrines, and Strategic Implications

The swift adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in cyber and information warfare has profoundly altered the strategic rivalry between the United States (U.S.) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), calling for a methodical analysis of their respective capacities, doctrines, and consequences. This review amalgamates prior research to contrast the application of AI-driven cyber warfare by both countries, with particular attention to their technological progress, doctrinal structures, and wider geopolitical implications. We adopt a structured approach to analyze key dimensions such as the U.S.-China cyber-AI rivalry, the role of AI in modern warfare, and the strategic decision-making processes influenced by autonomous systems. The results show clear differences in their strategies: whereas the U.S. focuses on innovation and cooperation between public and private sectors, the PRC concentrates on centralized governance and extensive deployment, which illustrates contrasting systems of governance. The study also highlights new developments, such as the militarization of AI, the weaponization of information, and the destabilizing consequences of AI-driven cyber operations on regional and global security. These findings highlight the pressing necessity for global standards to reduce escalation dangers, given that unregulated AI progress might intensify current conflicts. This review situates the competitive dynamics within a wider strategic framework, advancing a more profound comprehension of how AI is transforming power balances in cyber and information warfare, which has essential implications for policymakers and researchers.