The militarization of artificial intelligence
The rapid pace at which technology advances today is, in many ways, a double-edged sword. The 21st century has seen many controversial technological and scientific debates draw worldwide attention - none of which are more relevant than artificial intelligence.
Perhaps the most potentially limitless tool in mankind's arsenal, AI's existence poses both a threat and opportunity to humanity, and it's critical that its usage is approached with the utmost caution and open-mindedness. Although we seem to be a step away from seeing androids capable of true independent thought, artificial intelligence is no longer a far-off concept, and it's critical to erase the belief that it is.
Today, AI in many forms is used to perform tasks more efficiently and fervently than any human could. Social media uses AI algorithms to personalize advertisements based on the user's online activity. In the healthcare sector, machines capable of diagnosing patients see a large degree of success. Tech giants such as Google and Microsoft own functioning facial recognition tools. Furthermore, innovations such as autonomous cars and capable digital assistants are on the front page every other day.
However, AI can be equally deadly as it is productive - if not more - when used in the wrong ways. The questionable and unregulated application of AI into the battlefield is a topic which concerns the very near future of warfare. In 2017, Harvard's Belfer Center predicted that Artificial Intelligence may be as transformative to common warfare as nuclear weaponry and even weaponized aircraft. Internationally, there is huge interest and funding in R&D regarding the militarization of AI. Fiscal reports for 2022 have shown $874 million in funding allocated to 'artificial intelligence projects' by the US Department of Defense. Furthermore, a recent study by the Georgetown University Center for Security and Emerging Technology reported that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China spends an average of $1.6 billion on AI-related projects...
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