{"id":27309,"date":"2019-10-29T16:57:25","date_gmt":"2019-10-29T16:57:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/10\/29\/explainer-is-the-us-losing-the-artificial-intelligence-arms-race\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:27:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:27:37","slug":"explainer-is-the-us-losing-the-artificial-intelligence-arms-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/opinion\/commentary\/2019\/10\/29\/explainer-is-the-us-losing-the-artificial-intelligence-arms-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Explainer: Is the US losing the artificial intelligence arms race?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. government, long a proponent of advancing technology for military purposes<\/a>, sees artificial intelligence as key to the next generation of fighting tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several recent investments and Pentagon initiatives show that military leaders are concerned about keeping up with<\/a> \u2013 and ahead of \u2013 China and Russia, two countries that have made big gains in developing artificial-intelligence systems. AI-powered weapons<\/a> include target recognition systems, weapons guided by AI, and cyberattack and cyberdefense software that runs without human intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. defense community is coming to understand that AI will significantly transform, if not completely reinvent, the world\u2019s military power balance. The concern is more than military. As Chinese and Russian technologies become more sophisticated, they threaten U.S. domination<\/a> of technological innovation and development, as well as global economic power and influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military leaders see the threat to U.S. technological leadership<\/a> coming from two main sources: a rising and ambitious China<\/a> and a mischievous and declining Russia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taken together, these forces challenge global stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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US Rep. Elise Stefanik, chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, introduced legislation Wednesday to prepare the government for the national security impact of artificial intelligence. In this Sept. 28, 2017, photo, Hanson Robotics’ flagship robot Sophia, a lifelike robot powered by artificial intelligence, holds an apple in Hong Kong. Sophia is a creation of the Hong Kong-based startup working on bringing humanoid robots to the marketplace. (AP Photo\/Kin Cheung)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The nature of the threat<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 2018 Pentagon report noted that technological developments could change the types of threats<\/a> facing the U.S., which might include space-based weapons, long-range ballistic missiles and cyberweapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A February 2019 analysis warned<\/a> that China\u2019s investments in its military\u2019s AI systems \u2013 in particular, those supporting robotics, autonomy, precision munitions and cyber warfare \u2013 threaten to overtake the United States<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese government agencies are working closely with the country\u2019s civilian businesses<\/a> to keep on top of fast-changing technological developments<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, some Chinese and Russian projects have developed military AI systems specifically aimed<\/a> at what they perceive as U.S. technological weaknesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, swarms of armed AI-enhanced drones<\/a> might locate and attack the secure computer systems countries rely on to control and launch their nuclear weapons<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Chinese flag hangs near a Hikvision security camera outside of a shop in Beijing on Oct. 8. The United States is blacklisting a group of Chinese tech companies that develop facial recognition and other artificial intelligence technology that the U.S. says is being used to repress China’s Muslim minority groups. (Mark Schiefelbein\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pentagon\u2019s response<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far the Pentagon\u2019s actions have been largely bureaucratic, rather than concrete. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has released a Defense Department-wide strategy document<\/a> that articulates broad principles for the development and use of AI in future warfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The military has established a Joint Artificial Intelligence Center<\/a>, which is tasked with accelerating the delivery and adoption of AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But projects with names like \u201cthe Third Offset<\/a>,\u201d \u201cProject Maven<\/a>\u201d and the \u201cAI Next Campaign<\/a>\u201d have minimal funding. Leaders have released few details about what they will actually do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Robots like this could improve the situational awareness of a platoon, especially if autonomous and paired with intelligence-processing systems and able to communicate clearly with human teammates. (Patrick Albright \/ Army)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Working with Silicon Valley<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pentagon has also established the Defense Innovation Unit<\/a>, with permission to circumvent the cumbersome military purchasing process, to coordinate with Silicon Valley<\/a> and bring new technologies into military use relatively quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That unit has sparked discussions about the potential for the Chinese military<\/a> to acquire and use U.S.-designed technologies, which led to U.S. bans on doing business<\/a> with many Chinese technology firms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many experts consider it possible for China to surpass the U.S.<\/a> in the development and use of AI<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, China trails the U.S.<\/a> in several ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States has the world\u2019s largest intelligence budget; the most popular hardware, software and technology companies; and the most advanced cyberwarfare capabilities, both offensive and defensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I and other experts expect<\/a> these advantages to preserve U.S. technological leadership for now, at least \u2013 but perhaps not forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\t