Kenneth Payne

Professor Kenneth Payne is a Professor of Strategy at King's College London's Defence Studies Department, part of the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy. His research focuses on the intersection of political psychology, strategic studies, and artificial intelligence. He has authored influential books like I, Warbot (2021) and Strategy, Evolution, and War (2018), exploring AI's transformative impact on conflict and decision-making. Payne has advised governments, NATO, and appeared before parliamentary committees in the UK and Netherlands. His work bridges evolutionary theory, modern warfare, and AI ethics, with recent contributions to debates on autonomous weapons and reliable AI in defense.

Key affiliations include the Cyber Security Research Group (CSRG) and King's Cybersecurity Centre. His awards include a Visiting Fellowship at Oxford University's Department of International Relations (2008). He teaches strategic studies, AI's role in conflict, and has supervised PhD students in related fields. Payne's research projects include studies on geopolitics, post-traumatic stress in combat troops, and counterinsurgency strategies in Iraq.