China and U.S. Test Intelligent-Drone Swarms (1)

U.S. and China Military AI Research

• The U.S. and China are focusing on integrating AI into their military operations.

According to Black Mirror, no way this ends well.

• Both countries are prioritizing weapons with autonomous target identification and navigation capabilities.

Recent Trials and Joint Exercises

• China's National University of Defense Technology recently tested a drone swarm that overcame jamming signals and autonomously destroyed a target.

• The U.S., along with the U.K. and Australia, conducted a joint exercise using AI-enabled drones to track and simulate attacks on ground vehicles.

Procurement and Investment

• A study from the Center for Security and Emerging Technology showed that about a third of all known AI-related military contracts in both countries were for intelligent and autonomous vehicles.

• Both the U.S. and China are estimated to be spending billions on military AI R&D.

Just imagine for a second the implications here… Swarms of thousands of drones with weapons attached, with autonomous decision making.

Global Context and Concerns

• Ukraine has used semi-autonomous drones in conflict against Russia, offering insights into real-world applications.

• A meeting hosted by the Netherlands discussed responsible use of AI in the military, issuing a nonbinding set of principles emphasizing human oversight.

Policy and Regulation

• The U.S. tightened rules last year on exporting advanced semiconductors to China.

• Publicly available data shows less than 5% of contracts in both countries were for AI in military command and control functions.