The same cognitive switch that lets us see humanity in animals can be inverted to ignore it in people. This 'evil twin,' dehumanization, makes it psychologically easier to harm others during conflict. Marketers and propagandists exploit both sides of this coin, using cute animals to build affinity and dehumanization to justify aggression.

Instead of developing proprietary systems, the military adopts video game controllers because gaming companies have already invested billions perfecting an intuitive, easy-to-learn interface. This strategy leverages decades of private-sector R&D, providing troops with a familiar, optimized tool for complex, high-stakes operations.

The first video games and controllers were not created by entertainment companies, but as 'moonlighting projects' by engineers at institutions working on military applications. This origin story reveals the deep, early connection between gaming and military tech, where downtime creativity in one field directly influenced the other.

The game intentionally forced players through tedious training modules before they could access combat gameplay. This acted as a self-selection tool; players who disliked the structured, value-driven training were likely not the type of disciplined individuals the Army wanted to attract.

One-on-one chatbots act as biased mirrors, creating a narcissistic feedback loop where users interact with a reflection of themselves. Making AIs multiplayer by default (e.g., in a group chat) breaks this loop. The AI must mirror a blend of users, forcing it to become a distinct 'third agent' and fostering healthier interaction.

To access its target demographic of teenagers, the U.S. Army's recruitment game was designed to be relatively bloodless and free of gore. This secured a "T for Teen" rating, making the experience of war more palatable and accessible to a younger, broader audience.

The game tracked if players cheated on mandatory training modules, like first aid. Years later, during a multiplayer match, the game could announce to a player's team that their medic had cheated, creating social consequences for a lack of integrity and reinforcing Army values.

In 2002, the Army launched "America's Army," a high-budget game that was completely free. Unlike commercial studios needing sales, the Army's return on investment was recruitment and brand building, allowing it to innovate on the now-common free-to-play business model.

After "America's Army" was outmatched by commercial titles, the military shifted its strategy. It stopped making its own games and instead focused on reaching gamers where they were, appearing at launch events for games like Halo and consulting for franchises like Call of Duty.