Lawfare Daily: What China Thinks of Military AI with Sam Bresnick
Jul 11, 2024
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Sam Bresnick discusses China's military AI perspectives and challenges in his report. They explore China's goals in AI, fears of US advancements, and applications in military operations. The podcast delves into China's AI strategy, challenges with data collection and lack of combat data for training AI systems effectively, as well as future research directions.
China is investing heavily in military AI applications, including autonomous vehicles and cybersecurity, similar to the US.
Chinese experts express concerns about AI risks, including unreliability, bias, and lack of combat data for training.
Deep dives
China's Military AI Capabilities and Concerns
China is striving to catch up with the United States in military AI capabilities, facing challenges in developing individual parts of the AI kill chain. Concerns exist within the Chinese defense experts about AI risks and whether China can surpass the US. The hope is that AI technologies will enhance China's military capabilities in the medium to long term, potentially leapfrogging the US. Despite worries about China catching up, the Chinese are also concerned that they are still behind and that the gap may be widening.
China's Military AI Spending and Applications
China is investing heavily in military AI applications similar to those of the United States, including autonomous vehicles, decision support tools, cybersecurity, and more. Concerns arise over the lack of combat data for training AI systems due to limited real battle experiences. Challenges include data organization, sharing, and the development of standardized testing and evaluation procedures for AI-enabled military systems.
Chinese Perspectives on AI Risks in Military Applications
Chinese experts express concerns about AI risks due to unreliable, uncontrollable, and potentially biased systems. Efforts are needed to ensure the trustworthiness of AI systems for military applications. Issues like miscalculation, escalation risks, and vulnerabilities in security and data integrity need to be addressed. Difficulties in developing standardized testing and evaluation procedures pose challenges for the effectiveness of AI-enabled military systems.
Research Findings and Audience Insights
The research reveals Chinese defense experts' viewpoints on military AI capabilities and risks, providing valuable insights for the US Department of Defense and the National Security Council. The report aims to contribute to discussions around China's military AI development and the importance of understanding potential risks and advancements. The hope lies in fostering shared understanding and potentially establishing confidence-building measures to mitigate risks associated with AI applications in the military.
Many Pentagon officials and U.S. lawmakers likely lay awake at night wondering what Chinese leaders think about the use of artificial intelligence in war.
On today’s episode, Sam Bresnick, a Research Fellow at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology joins Lawfare Managing Editor Tyler McBrien to begin to answer that very question and discuss his new report, “China’s Military AI Roadblocks: PRC Perspectives on Technological Challenges to Intelligentized Warfare.”
They discuss how Sam found and analyzed dozens of Chinese-language journal articles about AI and warfare, Beijing’s hopes for these new and emerging technologies, and what, in turn, keeps Chinese defense officials up at night as well.