A defense official reveals how AI chatbots could be used for targeting decisions
Though the US military's big data initiative Maven has sped up the planning of strikes for years, the comments suggest that generative AI is now adding a new interpretative layer to such deliberations.
TL;DR
- Generative AI chatbots may be used by the US military to prioritize lists of potential targets.
- Human operators would review and vet AI-generated recommendations before striking.
- Companies like OpenAI and xAI have agreements for their models to be used in classified Pentagon settings.
- This generative AI approach is distinct from older AI systems like Maven, which analyze data and imagery.
- Generative AI outputs are easier to access but harder to verify compared to older AI methods.
- The Pentagon's use of AI is under scrutiny following a recent strike in Iran that killed over 100 children.
- Anthropic's Claude AI was reportedly used in operations in Iran and Venezuela, but faced Pentagon designation as a supply chain risk.
- OpenAI and xAI have also reached agreements for their models' use in classified Pentagon environments.