Future Warfare and Artificial Intelligence: Visible Path

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as the most disruptive technology of the current era and is advancing exponentially. AI is growing around the concept of machines acquiring human like intelligence for problem solving. Though still in early evolutionary stage, it is already changing the ways the day to day thing are being done. It has already made fair progress and has performed unimaginable feats like natural language processing, facial recognition, multi-dimensional computations and analysis, scientific researches, robotic surgeries, robotic cars, and so many others. No field seems to have been left untouched by this technology. In a decade or so, as the technology evolves further, it is likely to radically transform the ways of the mankind.

AI is also emerging as the base technology for the military systems, where the future intelligent weapons and systems are envisaged to transform the military operations. Intelligent systems are being developed for every possible military field, which include combat, ISR, logistics, transportation, administration, training, etc. Some of these like lethal autonomous weapon systems have raised worries and controversies too. AI, nevertheless, is set to transform and reshape warfare in the near future. This paper analyses the likely reshaping of the future warfare by AI based on current trends of development world over. Looking at the future criticality of technology, the paper also analyses India’s position in this whole state of affairs and accordingly makes some recommendations.

About the Author

Gp Capt Atul Pant is a serving member of the Indian Air Force with 27 years of service and has served in various capacities in the IAF, including instructional tenures and as staff at Air Headquarters. He is currently a research fellow at IDSA.