Henrik Syse

Oslo Nye Høyskole, Peace Research Institute Oslo

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About

Henrik Syse is a prominent philosopher and ethicist whose research sits at the intersection of military ethics, artificial intelligence, and moral philosophy. Based at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Syse has established himself as a leading voice in debates surrounding the ethical dimensions of emerging military technologies, particularly lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS). His most cited work, "Applying AI on the Battlefield: The Ethical Debates" (2021), examines the profound moral questions raised when human agents are removed from life-and-death targeting decisions, a contribution that has attracted 12 citations and shaped ongoing international discourse. Syse's broader body of work maps the moral landscape of military robotics, interrogates whether autonomous weapons should face outright prohibition, and explores how traditional frameworks of military ethics education must evolve in an AI-driven world. His 2023 paper on robotic virtue and storytelling reflects a distinctly humanistic approach, arguing that cultivating the right virtues remains essential even as machines assume greater battlefield roles. Across his scholarship, Syse consistently bridges abstract philosophical reasoning with urgent real-world policy questions, making his work invaluable to students, ethicists, and defense policymakers alike.