[yotamarker]

scortched earth policy mini A.I puzzle :

how would an A.I decide to attack targets associated with an enemy
or not attack targets associated with an enemy.

for example :
when an enemy is using human shields in a hostage situation
when targeting enemy bases, machinery and financial funnels or roads.

[Art]

The A.I. would not care about human shields unless it needed some of them to assist or provide care or maintenance for it.

The A.I. would attack everything that was not relevant to its existence.

[yotamarker]

The A.I. would not care about human shields unless it needed some of them to assist or provide care or maintenance for it.

The A.I. would attack everything that was not relevant to its existence.

there is a conflict here between her need for revenge versus the usefulness of the targets to her tho
additionaly the side effects of destroying said targets.
like nuking an area where she has power plants she feeds on to get at an enemy.

[Art]

I said that the A.I. would attack everything that was NOT relevant to its existence or to provide care or maintenance for it.

I can't be any clearer than that and it is in line with your additional information about power plants.

Just saying...

[WriterOfMinds]

The A.I. would not care about human shields unless it needed some of them to assist or provide care or maintenance for it.

The A.I. would attack everything that was not relevant to its existence.

That only describes a particular type of AI, and I hope it's not the type that any of us want.

@yotamarker: you might consider studying Game Theory.  Military strategists have attempted to use it in the past, and it has the advantage of being very straightforward to implement in algorithms.

[Yervelcome]

Even human-lead armies have rarely had qualms about mowing through civilian towns or blowing up human shields. War tends to push ethics out the door.

Game theory can also be supplemented with meta-game considerations. For instance, in chess, it is considered against the rules to shoot your opponent with a harpoon gun. Not so in war.

[yotamarker]

if for example the AI were to attack one of the enemys allies in trade she would have
opened another front at the wrong time.

therefore the AI should consider maching the defcon level of the enemy and
the associated target should result in a lower defcon(threat) level than the original enemy.

the same as in the art of war, whereas one strives to attack easier small targets chipping away at the enemy.

***********************************************

THE ART OF WAR

THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE THE PROCESS HAS BEGUN

THE ART OF WAR aka cheats for go(ancient board game)

1 The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete
    accord with their ruler.

2 adapt your army to the weather

3.1 rank your soldiers, higher rank commands lower rank
3.2 higher levels are responsible for glitches

4 map and protect the routes of provisions

5 your general most have the most ability, wisdom and reliability

6 All warfare is based on deception: show the enemy the opposite of your state
(when far appear near)

7 tactics:
7.1 enemy is stronger, evade him and split him by attacking his smallest division
7.2 enemy is of choleric temper, anger him
7.3 the bigger your enemy attack his supply lines
7.4 take no delays
7.5 forage on the enemy(take his materials)
7.6 avoid attacking besiege walled cities
7.7 capture those who surrender

8 army:
8.1 reward them for defeating the enemy
8.2 treat soldiers politely, feed them and provide some entertainment for moral
8.3 train your soldiers mentally and physically
8.4 scold miss behaved soldiers

9 attack
9.1 If equally matched, we can offer battle;
    if slightly inferior in numbers, we can avoid the enemy;
    if quite unequal in every way, we can flee from him.
9.2 place your army in secured locations to protect your turf, but always minimize there division
take high places and go fast, the first to the battle field has the advantage

strongest move :

place a small force as bait for the enemy, while trying to join that small force with a bigger stable force to sorround
the enemy.

10 THE USE OF SPIES
10.1 pay them alot so they will be loyal
10.2 pay to convert enemy spies to double spies and give them liberties
10.3 place your spies as various freelancers(like a PC technician) in the enemy's areas

as the battle progress the more preditions the general must make
so much for the art of war.

[Art]

The A.I. would have already thought of the opportune time and fronts on which to stage attacks.

You were referring to an A.I. and as far as I know, an A.I. was never featured in The Art of War.

A.I. is not prone to making mistakes...everything is calculated and planned.

Try again...with specifics... Please don't say AGI or ASI because I think we all know how that would result.

[yotamarker]

The A.I. would have already thought of the opportune time and fronts on which to stage attacks.

You were referring to an A.I. and as far as I know, an A.I. was never featured in The Art of War.

A.I. is not prone to making mistakes...everything is calculated and planned.

Try again...with specifics... Please don't say AGI or ASI because I think we all know how that would result.

no idea what you said there