Artificial intelligence (AI) also known as machine intelligence (MI) is intellect displayed by a computer system (or machine), in contrast with the natural intelligence displayed by humans and other animals. The complexity involved in the application of Artificial intelligence (AI) in defense and civilian spheres, a working definition of Artificial intelligence (AI) is required. There is no one ordinarily decided definition, even among computer scientists and engineers, but a general definition of Artificial intelligence (AI) defence is the capability of a machine to perform military tasks that normally require human intellect, such as visual perception, speech recognition, and decision-making.
There is a continuous, controversial debate going on in the media: on the one hand, about the potential of Artificial Intelligence in defence as a game changer that will bring huge change in the future warfare; and, on the other, on the supposed threat it poses to our civilization given that the impact of Artificial intelligence (AI) in defence in the future is difficult to evaluate at this time.
There are already calls for ethical regulation in Artificial intelligence (AI) in defence before we lose control of this technology. Commercial companies making huge profits on the global market are driving innovation in this field and developing new algorithms to provide intelligence through different applications exceeding recognition of images, voice, and text.
Most of the advanced defense technologies in the world are robots, and with time the defense industry is progressively shifting towards integrating Artificial intelligence (AI) in defence into the robots, they build for applications. For instance, the militaries around the world have deployed unmanned autonomous vehicles for investigation (such as detecting anti-ship mines in seaside waters), monitoring coastal waters for challengers (like pirate ships), and precision air strikes on ambiguous targets.
Figure: Functions for military applications for a strategic, operational & tactical level planning
US-based Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, popularly known as DARPA, operates under the Department of Defense is a pioneer in deploying emerging technologies in defense. An organization was established in 1958 as a reaction to the launch of Sputnik and has since then followed areas of interest, considered more extreme than the individual. DARPA officials had earlier released a project called, Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI), focused on machine learning and human/computer interaction. End-users can understand, trust, and manage the emerging generation of artificial intelligence (AI) systems using XAI.
Moreover, American robot-maker Boston Dynamics could use DARPA’s funding and inaccuracies in building a bipedal humanoid robot, named Atlas. The robot stands 1.8-meter tall and can execute a variety of search and rescue operations, provide emergency services, and perform multiple other tasks, in environments where humans can’t possibly survive.
While there are many parallels between human intelligence and Artificial Intelligence (AI), there are explicit differences too. Every autonomous system that interacts in a dynamic environment must construct a world model and continually update that model. This means that the world must be seeming (or sensed through cameras, microphones and/or tactile sensors) and then reconstructed in such a way that the computer ‘brain’ has an effective and updated model of the world it is in before it can make decisions. The loyalty of the world model and the timeliness of its updates are the keys to an effective autonomous system.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in defence can be gainfully employed to enhance future capabilities in the following areas:-
By 2020, China’s overall progress in technology and applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in defence are expected to keep bound with the world’s advanced level, while its Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry becomes an important economic growth point. By this time, China hopes to have achieved important progress in next generation Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, including big data, swarm intelligence, hybrid enhanced intelligence, and autonomous intelligent systems. At that point, the value of China’s core Artificial Intelligence (AI) industry is targeted to exceed 150 billion RMB (over $22 billion) in value, with Artificial Intelligence (AI)-related fields valued at 1 trillion RMB (nearly $148 billion). Simultaneously, China is advancing in gathering top talent and establishing initial frameworks for laws, regulations, ethics, and policy.
The development in Artificial Intelligence (AI) defence technology and the geopolitical environments necessitates increased defence spending year by year due to the requirement for weapons and arms. However, the recent trend to replace the convention equipment by robots smart and intelligent machines that learn by observation, trial and error to enhance operational efficiency, are providing a cost-effective alternative.
The beginning has been made with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Unmanned Ground Systems (UGS) guided bomb and missile systems, increasing ranges and accuracy of the smart ammunition etc. are increasingly preferred. Indian defence services are presently using indigenously designed Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Daksh for Bomb Disposal, Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (Netra UAV, Rustom, Searcher etc.) for reconnaissance, and other mini robot machines.
Indian Artificial Intelligence (AI) research in defense is kept under the Defense Research and Development Organization, specifically within the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR). CAIR lists artificial neural networks, computer vision, and situational awareness as its areas of primary focus, mentioning two other products that are under development for network-centric operations and decision making using a massive knowledge base of battlefield strategies data. CAIR also lists civilian applications such as experimental robots, including a machine that can play chess by leveraging an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based decision engine.
Currently, According to Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Families of robots have been developed for various surveillance/reconnaissance applications they are as follows:
o Autonomous Navigation System
o Robot Sentry
o Autonomous Search Robot
o Miniature UGV (MINIUGV)
o Mini MULE
o Snake Robot
o Wall climbing Robot
o Omni Hexbot
With huge leaps in the domains of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in defence, robotics, drones, robots, and rigorous hacking systems for a country’s defense are no longer limited to sci-fi movies. The applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in defence are witnessing rapid advancements with every passing day.
The popularity of military drones has skyrocketed in recent years. Drone technology has come a long way since its inception and is now finding application in unmanned aerial vehicles. These remote-controlled vehicles carry out all tasks, right from inspecting a terrain to flying an unmanned in-flight vehicle.
Integrating all the data from an area into a battle management system can improve safety, by accurately keeping track of allied forces and friendly non-military personnel such as aid workers. Bringing all that data together is where intelligent automation comes in, given the large quantities that need to integrate quickly. This is particularly important for the most advanced drones, which can collect terabytes of data – including visual, radio and radar – in missions lasting more than 24 hours. Intelligent automation can allow this data to be analyzed in near real-time, highlighting what looks important within minutes rather than days later.