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KennethPayne

Professor Kenneth Payne

Professor of Strategy

Research interests

  • International relations
  • Politics

Biography

Professor Kenneth Payne's research is in political psychology and strategic studies. His latest book, I, Warbot, considers the ways in which Artificial Intelligence will change strategy. It was chosen as a book of the year by The Economist newspaper and by leading IR journal International Affairs.

Earlier books explored the evolution of strategy from apes and early humans to Artificial Intelligence; strategy in the Vietnam War, and the relationship between human evolution and modern, liberal warfare.

Professor Payne has consulted for the governments of the United Kingdom and United States. He’s appeared before Parliamentary committees in the UK and Netherlands. He’s been a NATO research fellow and visiting fellow at Oxford University.

Research Interests

  • Strategic studies
  • Political psychology
  • Artificial Intelligence

Professor Payne is currently exploring the role of empathy and personality in shaping strategy, using the period of the Kennedy administration as a case study.

Publications

Books

Articles

Teaching

Professor Payne teaches across the range of strategic studies topics, with specialist modules on the psychology of conflict and artificial intelligence. 

PhD Supervision

Professor Payne is happy to consider PhD proposals in his research area.

Dr Kenneth Payne PURE Profile

Research

it-security-cyber
Cyber Security Research Group

CSRG promotes research into cyber security bringing together experts from diverse disciplines.

News

Reliable and Trustworthy AI for Defence

Read about King's work on reliable and trustworthy artificial intelligence for defence, as featured in the Bringing the Human to the Artificial exhibition.

An image of a data processing centre. The perspective is of looking down a hallway with bright overhead lights and glass floor to ceiling units on either side.

How cyber operations, social media and artificial intelligence are changing warfare

The invasion of Ukraine has shown how new technologies are now used alongside more traditional means of waging war. This new podcast episode explores the role...

AI and cyber security images

Events

15SepNew Voices logo NEW

What neuroscience and linguistics tell us about threat perception in International Relations?

Dr Eitan Oran explores how core systems of the brain and body shape perceptions of foreign military threats.

Please note: this event has passed.

17JunIWarbotHighRes

I Warbot - Book Launch with Dr Kenneth Payne

Dr Kenneth Payne launches his exciting new book exploring the impact of Artificial Intelligence on warfare

Please note: this event has passed.

10JunStrategic Studies psd

Assessing the UK’s Integrated Review: The Implications for Regional and International Order

A projection on Britain’s future relationship with China and the EU

Please note: this event has passed.

Features

Artificial Intelligence: The Challenges Facing UK Defence

Dr Kenneth Payne explores the geopolitical implications of militarised AI and its impact on armed forces

ArmymanAI

Research

it-security-cyber
Cyber Security Research Group

CSRG promotes research into cyber security bringing together experts from diverse disciplines.

News

Reliable and Trustworthy AI for Defence

Read about King's work on reliable and trustworthy artificial intelligence for defence, as featured in the Bringing the Human to the Artificial exhibition.

An image of a data processing centre. The perspective is of looking down a hallway with bright overhead lights and glass floor to ceiling units on either side.

How cyber operations, social media and artificial intelligence are changing warfare

The invasion of Ukraine has shown how new technologies are now used alongside more traditional means of waging war. This new podcast episode explores the role...

AI and cyber security images

Events

15SepNew Voices logo NEW

What neuroscience and linguistics tell us about threat perception in International Relations?

Dr Eitan Oran explores how core systems of the brain and body shape perceptions of foreign military threats.

Please note: this event has passed.

17JunIWarbotHighRes

I Warbot - Book Launch with Dr Kenneth Payne

Dr Kenneth Payne launches his exciting new book exploring the impact of Artificial Intelligence on warfare

Please note: this event has passed.

10JunStrategic Studies psd

Assessing the UK’s Integrated Review: The Implications for Regional and International Order

A projection on Britain’s future relationship with China and the EU

Please note: this event has passed.

Features

Artificial Intelligence: The Challenges Facing UK Defence

Dr Kenneth Payne explores the geopolitical implications of militarised AI and its impact on armed forces

ArmymanAI