Virtual training opportunities for human augmentation
Publish date: 2026-03-25
Report number: FOI-R--5893--SE
Pages: 43
Written in: Swedish
Keywords:
- human augmentation
- resilience
- training
- education
- AI
- gaming
- virtual
Abstract
Military personnel operate in complex and unpredictable environments where tasks can be demanding, involving stress and risk of overload, negatively impacting performance. This report examines how virtual reality (VR) and generative artificial intelligence (AI) can be used for human augmentation in military training, aiming to optimize performance and build mental resilience through realistic and controlled training environments. Studies show that VR effectively induces physiological stress similar to real-world conditions and can improve navigation, decision-making, and recovery. Physiological measurements enable individualized stress training and distinguish between challenge and threat responses. AI-generated video and interactive generative video offer potential for dynamic, tailored scenarios, but face technical challenges including insufficient realism, short clip durations, lack of temporal memory, and long generation times. Legal and ethical issues-including copyright, bias, and security-must be addressed. Despite these challenges, VR is already a valuable tool, while AI remains in an early developmental stage. Future research should focus on improving quality, developing domain-specific AI models, evaluating user acceptance, and integrating real-time monitoring to create more effective, secure, and individualized military training.