Google’s decision to abandon its non-development of AI for weapons signals the growing urgency of private companies in incorporating this technology into military applications. The United States and China are locked in a global arms race, with China seemingly pulling ahead in developing AI-powered combat systems.
According to a 2020 Brookings Institution report, China had been investing in AI weapons systems for years, while a June 2024 National Security News report predicted that China could have fully autonomous AI weapons on the battlefield within two years. Meanwhile, the US Army has been testing an AI-powered “robot dog” called the Quadrupedal-Unmanned Ground Vehicle (Q-UGV) in the Middle East.
China’s military views AI as a means to process and analyze information faster than human decision-makers, while Russia focuses on disabling an adversary’s command-and-control systems. The US relies on partnerships with private firms, but faces challenges due to financial and public relations concerns.
The future of autonomous weapons systems has seen shocking outcomes, including the killing of a human by an autonomous drone in Libya in 2020. As AI warfare becomes more prevalent, countries need to proceed with caution, recognizing that AI is not just about better drones or automated weapons but also about who can make decisions faster and more accurately.
The author, Matthew Berman, notes that the US is already engaged in its first AI war – a conflict of information, decision-making, and battlefield intelligence. As AI continues to shape the nature of warfare, it is essential to explore complex issues with clarity and depth, making them accessible to a broad audience.
Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a64131751/ai-warfare