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
- Kenneth Payne, I Warbot: The Dawn of Artificially Intelligent Conflict (London: Hurst & Co. 2021; New York, OUP, 2021)
- Kenneth Payne, Strategy, Evolution, and War: From Apes to Artificial Intelligence (Washington DC: Georgetown University Press, 2018)
- The Psychology of Strategy: Exploring Rationality in the Vietnam War (London: Hurst & Co. 2015; New York: OUP, 2015)
- The Psychology of Modern Conflict: Evolutionary Theory, Human Nature and a Liberal Approach to War (Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2015)
Articles
- Kenneth Payne, ‘Artificial Intelligence as a revolution in military affairs,’ Survival, 60:5, Oct-Nov 2018
- Kenneth Payne and Kareem Ayoub, ‘Strategy in the age of Artificial Intelligence,’ Journal of Strategic Studies, 39:5-6, 2016
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.
Research
Cyber Security Research Group
CSRG promotes research into cyber security bringing together experts from diverse disciplines.
King's Cybersecurity Centre
An EPSRC-NCSC Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR). It provides expertise on most areas of cyber security, it has a critical mass of researchers working on three main research themes and their interrelationship.
News
Awards for SSPP research making the world a better place
The Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy (SSPP) held its 2024 Impact Awards to recognise and celebrate impactful research.
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.
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...
Events
DSD Research Seminar Series: Shall we play a game? Using artificial intelligence to simulate strategic decision-making.
Professor Kenneth Payne discusses the role of Artificial Intelligence in making strategic choices. Do they look anything like human ones?
Please note: this event has passed.
Debating the Future of War: A Symposium
War Studies scholars will discuss the impact of the war in Ukraine on the broader social phenomenon of war and more.
Please note: this event has passed.
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.
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.
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
Research
Cyber Security Research Group
CSRG promotes research into cyber security bringing together experts from diverse disciplines.
King's Cybersecurity Centre
An EPSRC-NCSC Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR). It provides expertise on most areas of cyber security, it has a critical mass of researchers working on three main research themes and their interrelationship.
News
Awards for SSPP research making the world a better place
The Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy (SSPP) held its 2024 Impact Awards to recognise and celebrate impactful research.
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.
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...
Events
DSD Research Seminar Series: Shall we play a game? Using artificial intelligence to simulate strategic decision-making.
Professor Kenneth Payne discusses the role of Artificial Intelligence in making strategic choices. Do they look anything like human ones?
Please note: this event has passed.
Debating the Future of War: A Symposium
War Studies scholars will discuss the impact of the war in Ukraine on the broader social phenomenon of war and more.
Please note: this event has passed.
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.
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.
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