Future of Decision Making – Home
The Future of Decision–Making
Examining the human implications of decision-making technologies in national security and governance
Project Overview
The Future of Decision-Making Project (FODM) is a multi-year, interdisciplinary research initiative examining how emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence and advanced decision-support systems—are reshaping human decision-making in high-stakes domains such as national security, defense, and crisis management.
Rather than focusing solely on technological capability, the project centers on the human dimension: how judgment, responsibility, and accountability evolve as machines increasingly inform, shape, or constrain human choices. The project brings together scholars and practitioners from academia, government, and industry to develop empirically grounded, policy-relevant insights into the future of human-machine decision systems.
Research Goals
The project examines how human decision-makers adapt cognitively, organizationally, and ethically alongside AI-enabled systems, while identifying risks associated with over-reliance, automation bias, and erosion of judgment.
Research findings are designed to inform the design of decision-support technologies that preserve meaningful human control and provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners.
Policy Impact
The project's findings aim to shape policy debates, institutional design, and international governance discussions—informing how AI decision systems are designed and governed before risks become entrenched.
Call for Papers! (Workshop)
Short essays (1,500 words) for the Emerging Technologies and the Future of Decision-Making: Organizations, Processes, Governance and Capability Development workshop shaping research on AI and decision-making.
Submit to futureofdecisionmaking@gmail.com by August 7, 2026.
Submission Guidelines and more information
Call for Papers! (Edited Volume)
Full-length, research-driven papers to be published in an edited volume on Emerging Technologies and the Future of Decision-Making: Organizations, Processes, Governance and Capability Development.
Submit to futureofdecisionmaking@gmail.com by December 18, 2026.
Submission Guidelines and more information
Recent Videos
Episode 1 | AI enabled War in Iran 2026
Funding and Partners
Primary funding is provided by the Government of Estonia, with additional support from the University of Exeter. Our project is also supported through collaboration with institutional research partners:
Events
The project hosts workshops and convenings to bring together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to collaborate on research findings and policy engagement. See all events:
Team
The Future of Decision-Making Project is an initiative of the Program on Geopolitics, Technology, and Governance, with support from senior advisors, visiting scholars, and contributors from partner institutions.
Bradley Boyd
Senior Military Fellow, Center for International Security and Cooperation | Founder and Senior Advisor, FODM
Conor Chapman
Research Associate, Program on Geopolitics, Technology, and Governance
Andrew J. Grotto
Co-Director, Program on Geopolitics, Technology, and Governance
Colin H. Kahl
Faculty Director, Program on Geopolitics, Technology, and Governance
Nand Mulchandani
Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution
Indrek Sarap
Visiting Scholar, Center for International Security and Cooperation
Zena Wood
Associate Professor in Digital Economy, University of Exeter | Senior Contributing Researcher, FODM