Want... In the run-up to the release of Terminator Genisys, the latest in the killer-robot-from-the-future series of movies, a number of Chinese defense experts have been discussing the idea of artificial intelligence (AI) being used in future military operations against the enemies of the People's Liberation Army, reports the nationalistic tabloid Global Times.
Dai Hao from the Chinese Academy of Engineering in Beijing said AI can be used tactically and strategically in military operations. Tactically, AI can be employed in killing machines just like the Terminators in the movies, Dai said. He said that future iterations of weapons systems like drones and precision-guided munitions may fit into this category. Strategically, Dai said AI could be developed to improve the command structure and communication between military units.
Professor Huang Changqiang of the PLA Air Force Engineering University said he believes that in the next five years an intelligent flying killing machine will be deployed to the battlefield, as opposed to programmed or remote controlled drones.
Qin Jirong, secretary of the Chinese Institute of Command and Control, said it is too early however to discuss the possibility of a machine rebellion against humanity that forms the premise of the Terminator series and other science fiction films. "After all, smart weapons systems are currently under the command and control of human beings," said Qin. "They can not launch any attack unless a human gives the order."
Wang Feiyao, secretary of Chinese Association of Automation said that only man has the capability to destroy man, not machine. Wang said weapons systems designed with AI may have the ability to wipe out a city or an entire nation, but such an incident would only be the result of an accident, not a robot rebellion.