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China’s military lab AI connects to commercial large language models for the first time to learn more about humans

  • Chinese researchers are using commercial ChatGPT-like systems to teach military AI how to face unpredictable human enemies
  • Baidu says it has no affiliation with the institution in question, and there is no direct link between the two

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Chinese researchers have tested connecting military AI to ChatGPT-like systems to teach its machines how to face human enemies. Photo: EPA-EFE
Stephen Chenin Beijing
Chinese scientists are teaching an experimental military artificial intelligence (AI) more about facing unpredictable human enemies with the help of ChatGPT-like technologies.
According to scientists involved in the project, a research laboratory with the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Strategic Support Force, which oversees the Chinese military’s space, cyber, intelligence and electronic warfare, has tested its AI system on Baidu’s Ernie and iFlyTek’s Spark, which are large language models similar to ChatGPT.

Baidu said on Saturday that it “has no affiliation or other partnership with the academic institution in question”.

“We have no knowledge of the research project, and if our large language model was used, it would have been the version publicly available online,” the company added.

The military AI can convert vast amounts of sensor data and information reported by frontline units into descriptive language or images and relay them to the commercial models. After they confirm they understand, the military AI automatically generates prompts for deeper exchange on various tasks such as combat simulations. The entire process is completely free of human involvement.

Meanwhile, one computer scientist has voiced concerns over the move, saying that unless it is handled carefully, it could lead to a situation similar to that depicted in the Terminator films.
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