Global power balance threatened by Chinese AI development

The global economic and military power balance can be altered as China is in a rush to develop artificial intelligence; a warning signal gave US think tank.

According to the report that cites examples how the information technology along with Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used in the military setting.

In July, China unveiled its plans to become a global leader in AI, the country was calling upon catching up the United States in the game. China seems committed to lead the AI development in the next decade—according to BBC.

Experts have different opinions on this but one expert said, “China is not inferior in technology anymore, the country has become a true peer which may have the capacity to overtake United States in AI, said the report from the center of a New American Security (CNAS), a research arm US intelligence agency. The report further revealed that AI-related projects and PLA research institutes have been partnering with Chinese defense Industry, the report cited documents that are publicly available.

“The PLA argues that the development of AI inherently can change the characteristics of warfare” the report added.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been warning the governments and other technology firms about the consequences of AI development and its use in modern warfare. On one occasion talking to media Elon Musk warned that AI could ignite World War III, he also urged the government to put a global ban on the use of AI in weapons that could kill the entire humanity.

Robots that can kill

Author, Elsa Kania, in the report said some PLA thinkers translate the approach of singularity in the battlefield; the speed and the decisions lead by machines are unbeatable by humans in a combat.

However, Prof Noel Sharkey head of the campaign to stop the killer robots told BBC that he has met with Chinese officials which suggested that they have no intention to develop such weapons. They are more concerned about the actions of the West, what they are doing and why making so much noise about the prohibition of such weapons. But he agrees that China would be able to catch up with the United States in AI development in the next five years or so.

Alibaba, Tencent, and Baidu all are equipped with well-established R&D wings, Baidu has more than 60 different AI platforms, the company has spent over $1 billion in acquiring Western AI firms.

Eric Schmidt, Chairman Alphabet inc, Google’s parent company has also warned about Chinese potential in AI, he said China is catching up too quickly. A recent OECD report, the science, technology and Industry Scoreboard, 2017 also pointed out immense growth in China technology power. The report said the number of AI technologies patented has seen a significant rise in the recent years, China and Taiwan are emerging countries in this along with US, Japan, and Korea.