India is trying to master third generation warfare, going by the statements from the Centre. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently stated that Artificial Intelligence can be used in a wide range of areas, including guarding the country’s borders and securing outer space.

Ajay Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, too thinks AI can be used by all the three forces as it would be a “big area” in future warfare. A 17-member task force headed by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran has been set up to look into this area.

Countries are spending billions of dollars to collaborate with tech giants to use AI (Artificial Intelligence) to produce weaponry for New Age warfare. They believe an AI-based system can help strengthen their defences. While a few are sceptical about AI-driven soldiers who, they claim, could be Machine Killers rather than protectors, others favour the idea of creating unmanned platforms that can help win a war, putting fewer human lives at stake.

What works

Metals crushing one another can reduce the number of lives at risk in a war. This has bolstered the defence departments’ confidence in them. Though the initial costs can be humongous, the benefits too are lasting and it can be a cost-saver in the long run.

If ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence), capable of carrying out select tasks, is used as an enabler in defence, the threat from AI army is largely undermined. But the scenario can turn dangerous when an AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), capable of performing tasks similar to a human, or ASI (Artificial Super-intelligence), that is more advanced than human intelligence, is used. These “killer bots” could become self-aware of their capabilities and decimate the population.

Currently, only the ANI technology is possible. But while advancing ahead to AGI or ASI, the focus should be on developing good autobots rather than bad decepticons.

Bots going berserk

The destruction that an algorithm-based army can wreak is potentially tremendous. These programmed systems can be hacked, after which their functioning depends on the individual or organisation that is controlling it. In a country with poor cyber security, there is a high probability of the technology slipping into the wrong hands. AI system behavioural patterns have also not been perfected due to the inadequate ‘training data’ fed in to them. An ANI based army may, at times, find it difficult to adapt to the changing warfare environment. The sense of responsibility in the citizens can also reduce with increased usage of AI.

Military expenditure on AI is not in public domain in most countries. But to get an idea: The R&D spend of the US Defence Department has been raised to $90.6 billion for FY 19. Project Maven, a collaboration of the US Defence Department with Google, is getting significant support from the Pentagon.

China, Russia, Japan, the UK, France, and Israel are on the same path pouring billions of dollars to develop advanced defence systems.

(The writer was an intern with BL Research Bureau)

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