Technological development is rapidly transforming the operating environment of intelligence and the foundations of intelligence analysis. Baltic Rim Economies 1/2026 examines in depth the impact of artificial intelligence, open-source intelligence (OSINT), satellite technologies and digital data on security policy and warfare.
The contributions highlight that the technological transformation is not limited to new tools, but also reshapes the ethical, institutional and societal foundations of intelligence.
Artificial intelligence and intelligence
Robert Dover (University of Hull, UK) analyses the impact of large language models and artificial intelligence on intelligence analysis. According to Dover, AI can significantly enhance data processing and analytical capacity, but at the same time introduces risks related to reliability, bias and transparency in decision-making. James L. Regens (University of Oklahoma, USA) also examines the implications of artificial intelligence for warfare and intelligence, emphasising both the growing importance of technology and the continued need for critical human judgement.
- Robert Dover: The impact of large language models on intelligence
- James L. Regens: Artificial intelligence is transforming the character of war
Open-source intelligence in war and security policy
The importance of open-source intelligence (OSINT) has increased markedly, particularly as a result of the war in Ukraine. Stephen Coulthart (University at Albany, USA) analyses the role of OSINT networks in warfare and intelligence, while Bram Spoor and Peter de Werd (Netherlands Defence Academy, the Netherlands) examine the use of OSINT in military decision-making and international cooperation.
- Stephen Coulthart: Lessons from Ukraine: How OSINT networks are changing war
- Bram Spoor: OSINT in NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast
- Peter de Werd: Military OSINT: low-hanging or forbidden fruit?
Satellites and geospatial intelligence
The convergence of technology and open-source intelligence is addressed by Giangiuseppe Pili (James Madison University, USA), who examines the role of satellites and geospatial data in OSINT. Geospatial intelligence refers to an intelligence discipline that integrates satellite imagery and geospatial data with information obtained from other intelligence sources. According to Pili, the increasing availability of satellite data is transforming traditional intelligence practices and enhancing transparency, while simultaneously challenging verification processes and the reliability of analysis.
Disinformation and the threats of technology
Technological transformation also brings new threats. Filippa Lentzos and Gemma Bowsher (King’s College London, UK) examine disinformation related to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats (CBRN) as a strategic weapon and as part of broader information influence operations.
The relationship between the media and intelligence, as well as the impact of technology on information dissemination, is further explored by Major Olli Teirilä, who reflect on the tension between openness and security in the digital environment. Several articles in the issue also address data manipulation, disinformation and the implications of technology for societal resilience.
- Filippa Lentzos & Gemma Bowsher: CBRN disinformation as strategic weapon
- Olli Teirilä: Dynamics of intelligence-media relationship
A comprehensive overview of the technological transformation of intelligence
Baltic Rim Economies 1/2026 demonstrates how artificial intelligence, open-source intelligence (OSINT) and data are fundamentally reshaping intelligence. The contributions provide a multifaceted overview of the opportunities and risks associated with new technologies, as well as how intelligence can harness these tools responsibly and effectively as part of contemporary security policy.
Read the full publication: Baltic Rim Economies 1/2026 – Intelligence and foresight
