The rapid advancement of AI in military applications was in the news this week. As conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East accelerate the adoption of AI-powered systems, the world is facing the reality of a dual-use technologies and their potential impact on global security. Advancements in autonomous systems, learning, and vision open doors for ground breaking commercial applications, but also promise profitable opportunities in defence contracts, which is where the ethical questions kick-in.
This week it emerged that around 200 Google DeepMind employees, representing about 5% of the division have signed a letter that called for an end to the company’s contracts with military organisations, particularly citing Project Nimbus, a cloud computing contract with the Israeli military. The employees expressed worry that Google’s AI technology could be used for warfare, highlighting reports that the Israeli military uses AI for mass surveillance and targeting in Gaza. This internal dissent at one of the world’s leading AI research companies underscores a growing tension between technological advancement and geo-politics.
The US Department of Defence’s Replicator program, announced earlier this year, aims to field autonomous systems at scale within 18-24 months, underscoring the urgency of major powers pursuing military AI capabilities. This push comes as China maintains its dominance in the global drone market, with DJI dominating. A future shaped by drone warfare appears to be increasingly likely as both China and the United States build up significant armies of these unmanned aerial vehicles.
The boundaries between military and commercial AI applications are blurring. Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, has launched White Stork, a startup developing AI-powered attack drones for Ukraine. Ukraine has become the premier testing ground for the west’s techno-military industrial complex. AI is being used for clearing minefields to enhancing drones for reconnaissance and targeted strikes. However, the conflict has also highlighted the downsides of digital weapons, including the vulnerability of AI systems to electronic warfare (EW). Recent reports suggest that China has developed new AI-powered EW chips that enable faster data analysis and improved perception capabilities at lower costs. These advancements allow Chinese military systems to detect, lock on, decode, and suppress enemy signals quickly and effectively, while maintaining smooth communication for their own forces. As concerns grow over conflict in the South China Sea, some suggest that AI’s primary would be in quickly finding targets within a hugely cluttered background, while simultaneously attempting to fool enemy AI systems.
The Ukrainian GIS Arta system exemplifies an augmented approach to battlefield decision making, offering methods for target selection described as the “Uber for artillery”. This system has notably improved Ukraine’s ability to respond across a huge geographical area. But AI decision-support also introduces risks. “We’ve learned the hard way that there is inherent human bias built into the AI system… leading to maybe misinformation being provided to the decision-maker.” – says Mallory Stewart, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability.
Takeaways: The integration of AI into military operations is now an undeniable reality. This brings with it supreme dilemmas. The Google DeepMind employee letter should encourage us all to ask questions. How is AI being used in this space? How are vendors ensuring their technologies are not misused? What safeguards are in place to prevent unintended consequences? Are there beneficial uses? Or are tech firms, and their desire to deploy at all costs, accelerating a global arms race and in danger of precipitating new conflicts?