The Guardian view on AI in war: the Iran conflict shows that the paradigm shift has already begun

<p>The intensified use of artificial intelligence, and rows over its control, demonstrate the need for democratic oversight and multilateral controls</p><p>“Never in the future will we move as slow as we are moving now,” the UN secretary-general, António Guterres, <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/03/1167074">warned</a> this week, addressing the urgent need to shape the use of artificial intelligence. The speed of technological development – as well as geopolitical turbulence – is collapsing the distinction between theoretical arguments and real world events. A political row<strong> </strong>over the US military’s AI capabilities coincides with its unprecedented use...