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It is no more new to us how AI has changed so many things in this 21st century especially in defense. It should be known that the military strength of a country is commonly considered as a measure of its power, and many highly developed nations allocate a significant portion of their resources to this sector. A considerable portion of these resources is allocated to exploring and implementing cutting-edge technologies such as AI in military applications. These AI-driven military systems possess superior computing and decision-making abilities, allowing them to process vast amounts of data efficiently.
However, when it comes to defense, every decision must be carefully considered as the applications of artificial intelligence are still in their infancy and can be prone to limitations. Despite its potential, the practical applications of AI in defense have raised ethical concerns among policymakers and advocates.
The ongoing conversation surrounding AI's role in National Defense
There has been significant controversy surrounding the use of AI in defense. While the technology holds immense potential to enhance military capabilities and improve national security, its practical applications have raised ethical concerns. The consequences of using AI in military operations must be carefully evaluated, and policymakers and activists have expressed concerns about the potential risks and unintended consequences of deploying AI in sensitive areas such as warfare. The ethical implications of AI's use in defense continue to be a contentious issue, and it requires careful consideration and regulation to ensure that its deployment aligns with legal, ethical, and societal norms
The primary concern regarding the use of AI in defense and weaponry is the potential for catastrophic consequences if the technology fails to perform as intended. For instance, it may miss its target, launch unauthorized attacks, or cause conflicts. To ensure the reliability of weapons systems, most countries subject them to rigorous testing before deploying them in the field. However, AI-driven weapons systems are non-deterministic, non-linear, high-dimensional, probabilistic, and continuously learning, making traditional testing and validation techniques insufficient. The race between world superpowers to outpace each other has fueled concerns that countries may not adhere to ethical standards while designing weapons systems, leading to disastrous implications on the battlefield. The increasing use of AI in defense has raised significant concerns, and there is a need to regulate and evaluate its use carefully to prevent unintended consequences.
Human Needs And Well-Being
The deployment of AI in weaponry and defense has raised serious ethical concerns, and the UN chief António Guterres has called for a ban on machines that have the power and discretion to take lives without human involvement. The possibility of strategic risks with the use of AI also increases the likelihood of war globally and escalates ongoing conflicts.
Despite extensive efforts to ban the technology in the UN, a complete ban is unlikely to be enforced. Therefore, it is essential to define broad guidelines for the deployment of AI in the field to secure the world. Firstly, AI should never be solely responsible for making judgement calls regarding arms. Human surveillance of its decisions before execution is crucial. Additionally, individuals responsible for deploying AI should possess a thorough knowledge of the technology. AI must be governable with humans having sufficient oversight and the ability to disengage a malfunctioning system immediately. This will ensure that any unintentional harm caused by AI is prevented.
According to William Scherlis, the director of the Information Innovation Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency of the United States, a mashup of machine learning with game theory and other elements may be necessary for strategic planning.
Technological setbacks
As defense increasingly relies on technology, it is crucial to assess the vulnerabilities of AI-based defense technologies that malicious actors might exploit. For instance, adversaries could manipulate AI systems by tampering with training data or gaining unauthorized access to training data by analyzing the specifically designed test inputs. The black box nature of AI and the resulting lack of explainability could pose risks in its application in highly regulated or critical environments. Opponents could craft an attack similar to training a machine learning model. Instead of training the model on a designated dataset, it could be trained on errors to produce false results every time it is used. Additionally, the reliability, fragility, and security of AI systems give rise to several other operational risks.