A survey of 1,000 U.S. adults found that 42% had heard nothing about the U.S. military’s use of AI in the Iran war, while 8% had heard “a lot.” The Institute for Global Affairs (IGA) published the YouGov poll on September 16, 2026, after fieldwork from August 11–14. Accounts of U.S. operations describe Maven Smart System as AI-assisted support for intelligence analysis and targeting; Adm. Brad Cooper said humans make the final decisions about what and when to shoot.
A U.S. poll finds a gap in awareness of military AI
IGA’s survey asked U.S. adults about the military’s use of AI in the Iran war. The findings describe the 1,000 people surveyed during the August 11–14 field period, not a measure of public opinion worldwide.
| Survey response | U.S. adults |
| Had heard nothing about military AI use in the Iran war | 42% |
| Had heard a lot about military AI use in the Iran war | 8% |
IGA reported a margin of error of ±3.64 percentage points.
What Maven Smart System supports
Maven Smart System is described as combining intelligence feeds—including radar, satellite and drone imagery, and electronic communications—into a shared battlefield picture. Its reported functions include helping identify and prioritize targets and supporting strike planning.
Claude and the human decision role
Claude was reportedly integrated with Maven in late 2024. In a March 11, 2026 briefing, Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, said U.S. warfighters use advanced AI tools to sift through large amounts of data. He also said humans make the final decisions about what to shoot, what not to shoot, and when.
