Technology and war

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Hi everyone,

Every week, I write about optimistic tech that's making the world a better place.

But doing that this week feels wrong.

While countless conflicts have been ongoing for years, global tensions reached new heights this week. So, instead of writing about solar panels or battery storage, I want to discuss the harsh reality of technology and its deep entanglement with war.

We live in a world shaped by innovation, where it's easy to talk about the marvels of clean energy, smart homes, and sustainable living. But all of it feels fragile and even meaningless against the backdrop of escalating violence and devastation.

So today’s edition is different. I want to cover the painful reality of how technology fuels war, but also the hope it might still offer for peace.

The cost of technological power

Nuclear weapons were born from some of the most brilliant scientific minds in history. On paper, their achievements were astonishing. In practice, they are a tragedy for humanity.

Today, over 13,000 nuclear warheads exist across the globe. A single one can level a city. A handful could end civilisation.

And that’s just nuclear. In recent decades, innovation in defence has brought to life entire arsenals of remote, precise, and devastating tools, all capable of destruction at the push of a button.

The blunt truth is that almost every new technical innovation brings with it a new way to cause harm.

AI systems can optimise energy use or guide precision missiles.
Satellites that monitor deforestation can also track troop movements.
Big data can help prevent disease or control entire populations.

Technology isn't inherently good or bad. It's a tool. And like any tool, its impact depends on who’s holding it.

It’s uncomfortable, but we need to face up to the fact that the same systems we build to solve the climate crisis can be adapted to worsen humanitarian ones. If we want innovation to prevent war instead of escalating it, we need to design and govern it differently, with foresight, ethics, and humility.

Tech that creates hope, not hurt

Despite everything, there is still technology being used by the right people, for the right reasons. Helping to reduce conflict, strengthen peace, and support vulnerable communities.

Here are a few ways that’s already happening:

• Conflict early-warning systems are using satellite imagery, social media analysis, and machine learning to detect signs of unrest before it breaks out. The CrisisWatch platform by the International Crisis Group tracks global conflicts in real time. Meanwhile, the Global Early Warning Tool developed by the UN helps governments prepare for geopolitical instability before it escalates.

• Secure communication tools are protecting those most at risk. Tools like Signal and ProtonMail offer end-to-end encryption, crucial for journalists, peace negotiators, and activists working in authoritarian regimes or war zones.

• Decentralised networks provide resilience against information suppression. During internet shutdowns in Myanmar, Sudan, and Iran, tools like Bridgefy and mesh network apps enabled communities to stay connected without relying on central infrastructure. This tech can keep information flowing when it’s needed most.

• Digital diplomacy simulations are being used to train leaders and youth in negotiation and conflict resolution. Organisations like Build Up are creating digital peacebuilding strategies that combine data science, gaming, and dialogue to help communities practice resolving disputes before they escalate.

• Blockchain for human rights: From documenting war crimes to securely distributing aid, blockchain systems are starting to play a role in post-conflict recovery. Projects like Starling Lab are preserving digital evidence of atrocities in a way that is verified, timestamped, and tamper-proof.

These innovations aren’t flashy. They don’t make headlines. But they quietly, persistently, push the world in a better direction.

Digital memories

One of technology’s most powerful traits is memory. It records. It preserves. It bears witness.

Right now, we need that more than ever.

We need platforms that amplify the voices of survivors.
We need archives that document war crimes, so they can’t be erased.
We need simulations that show the true cost of nuclear detonation, not abstract numbers, but real devastation to neighbourhoods, lives, and futures.

Because forgetting is the first step toward repeating our worst mistakes.

Usually, I write about the future as something exciting. Today, I write about it as something fragile.

I still believe technology can make the world more sustainable. We just need to get people on the same side as the incredible tools we’re building.

Amongst the chaos of the current world in which we all live, remember that for every destructive piece of technology, and every person using it to cause unnecessary harm, there’s someone else using their skills to build a peaceful and sustainable future.

Not for profit or power.
But for people and the planet.

Catch you next week,
James

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