China’s military AI advances likely to raise risk of US conflict, could yield ‘revolutionary’ changes: report

Washington should take bold action to stem Beijing’s progress in AI for military purposes and negotiate risk reduction, says American think tank

But China said to face several obstacles in its quest for supremacy, including tech controls imposed by the US and its allies

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While most of the changes AI will usher in are expected to be incremental and narrow, some could be revolutionary, according to a report by the Centre for a New American Security. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 6:58am, 26 Jul 2023

China’s advances in military AI, though incremental and narrow for the most part, could yield revolutionary changes and are likely to increase the risk of armed conflict with the US, a report by an American think tank warned.

These possibilities call for the US to get ready countering such risks as its rivalry with China is poised to intensify, according to the Washington-based Centre for a New American Security, which focuses on US national security and defence policies.

“In the near- and midterm, most of the changes AI will usher in will be incremental and narrow. But in the mid- to long-term, some could be revolutionary and general,” the report said.

“China provides little transparency on its military modernisation efforts, including for AI, which could someday lead to strategic surprise for the United States if Beijing manages to make breakthroughs in secret,” the report added.

Both China and the US are moving quickly to integrate artificial intelligence technologies into their militaries amid bilateral tensions involving their respective strategies in the South China Sea and Taiwan.

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