Key idea: The introduction of AI to warfare will likely be the deciding factor in who will dominate the information age.
Original author and publication date: Charles Beames (Forbes) – December 21, 2022
Futurizonte Editor’s Note: Should we accept that the true meaning and purpose of AI is warfare? It seems the bone and the spaceship are really connected.
From the article:
Artificial intelligence (AI) has graduated from the hype stage of the last decade and its use cases are now well documented, spanning a wide range from healthcare applications to autonomous vehicles – but its introduction to warfare will likely be the deciding factor in who will dominate the information age.
Today, AI machine learning algorithms support a whole host of media and web-based consumer platforms. Much like the aviation and nuclear technologies adopted in decades past, AI techniques are relatively neutral; however, properly harnessed AI technology will afford an asymmetric advantage that advances and adapts far more quickly than previous technologies. Since AI is largely software running on commercial processors it doesn’t require the decade long development cycles of nuclear missiles or bombers to deploy or even upgrade.
As such, whichever nation best adapts this technology to its military – especially in space – will open new frontiers in innovation and determine the winners and losers.
The US Army has anticipated this impending AI disruption and has moved quickly to stand up efforts like Project Linchpin to construct the infrastructure and environment necessary to proliferate AI technology across its intelligence, cyber, and electronic warfare communities. Meanwhile, the Air Force is also embarking on several projects, many oriented towards automation of tasks routinely done by soldiers and airman. Even the Pentagon has recognized the importance of AI and machine learning, launching the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office to emphasize critical technologies and keep pace with aggressive international competitors.
There are many more questions than answers at this point, because as (Kunal) Mehra alluded, few people understand how AI actually works let alone how it should be applied.
