Of all the uses you can get out of AI, one of the most commonly used assets it creates is in the military. It’s being used every single day, all over the world, to save the lives of both soldiers and civilians on the battlefront and other places. Most people don’t realize it, but the creation of AI was largely funded by the military. Both DARPA and the D.o.D. funded studies to create what we now know as artificial intelligence. That shouldn’t be a surprise, either. They’re also responsible for research leading to the Hubble telescope, microprocessors, the internet, fiber optics, Kevlar, and a whole slew of products and technology. Whenever the military comes up with an idea they think they can use, they fund its research and develop through private companies. Once the end result is reached, the military is free to purchase it for their own needs and the private companies keep the patents.
This has fueled tech growth for decades, but it’s not all wine and roses. It also happens to be a part of the military industrial complex that President Dwight Eisenhower warned the nation about! That’s a totally different article for a totally different platform, though. Now we’re just going to be talking about how the modern military utilizes artificial intelligence!
Threat Assessment
Being in combat isn’t any fun. There are more than enough people who will tell you that. That’s where AI can play a major role in avoiding it through threat assessment. Dataconomy recently released an entire article on it and here’s what they have to say: “With this technology, soldiers may identify dangers more quickly and receive guidance on how to deal with them. Army aircraft and ground vehicles now have intelligent sensors. It is one of the most important examples of how artificial intelligence is used in the military.”
Training
Then there’s the training of soldiers and AI is a massive part of that right now. The military is able to put their soldiers on the front lines and let them experience combat while carrying out their duties and they never have to expose them to any sort of danger. It’s being used extensively in the Air Force. It’s possible to train pilots in VR run by an AI. The end result is a pilot that’s ready to face any situation without jeopardizing his life or a multi-million dollar aircraft.
Cybersecurity
It’s no surprise that lots and lots of people try to break into the military’s network on a daily basis. That’s why AI is being implemented to stop them. The American army recently requested research into cybersecurity technologies powered by artificial intelligence that may protect personnel and communication networks. It is one of the most important examples of how artificial intelligence is used in the military. They can assess a digital threat and shut it down before it causes any damage. That allows them to keep on running while the person trying to hack them gets locked out.
Transportation
The military is nothing if not mobile. Men, women, and material have to be transported all over the world at a moment’s notice. That’s another area where AI is making a huge impact. As stated on Dataconomy: “Soldiers must navigate their vehicles through uncharted territory or terrain with few roads or other modes of mobility. Research is being done to add AI to autonomous vehicles so military personnel can get some help with their travel.” If AI can take that job over, there are fewer risks to the soldiers and the things they’re transporting. It’s a very obvious way of moving around both a battlefield and getting things where they need to go in peacetime.
AI is Everywhere
These are just a few examples of how the military is using AI. Most of the cutting edge operations are hidden being classified reports and operations. The truth is that we don’t know how deep into the military AI has made it. The only thing we do know is that it’s a major part of it and will continue to grow in its importance. That’s also true in the civilian world. AI is everywhere and it’s not going anywhere. When it’s coming installed on everything from your phone to your microwave, you can be sure that it’s never going to disappear. It’s here to make our lives both easier and more difficult We just have to figure out how to get the most of it in our daily lives.