Competition kicks off for self-guided combat aircraft
Are future wars going to involve machines taking control? The United States military is attempting to alleviate these worries and is already finding ways for fighter jets to function without human pilots in the future. The US and China are at the forefront of developing AI technology in the cockpit.
A demonstration played out recently when two US Air Force fighter jets engaged in a mock confrontation. In one, a pilot was at the controls, while the other was flown by artificial intelligence. Also on board the "Vista" was Frank Kendall, responsible for the Air Force. The display demonstrated just how advanced the Air Force's tech has become. However, this is just the beginning of what's to come.
Both the US and China are in a fierce competition in terms of AI and its integration into weapons systems. "Whether you call it a race or not, it is one," says US Vice Chief of Staff Christopher Grady. "We both recognize that this will be a crucial element on the future battlefield. China is working on it just as hard as we are."
As the public increasingly fears that future wars will be fought by machines, the military is quick to assure that this is unlikely to happen, at least not on the US side. The extent to which an opposing force could employ AI is yet to be seen, and the US military wants to be prepared.