AI or Artificial Intelligence is the most talked-about topic in the present discourse on technology in every society and culture. It has been the talk of the town since the invention of the revolutionary new chatbot ChatGpt developed by Sam Altman’s OpenAI. With AI becoming pervasive in almost every sector of the global economy, there is no doubt that it will become a tour-de-force in the future. However, it is first necessary to deconstruct the idea of AI.
AI is a new form of intelligence operated on electronic devices such as PCs and tablets, without human intervention. This form of intelligence operates using algorithms, which Yuval Noah Harari describes as written codes fed into the artificial neural network on which the machine operates to enable it to carry out intelligence tasks. This is ascertained by the computational capacity of the machine, which demands the consumption of massive amounts of data.
The novelty of AI lies in the fact that it can learn about things on its own by analysing the treasure trove of data on the internet. The conceptualisation of AI took place back in the 1950s when the computer scientist Alan Turing predicted new forms of life organised around machines that would soon be able to work without human interface.
In that context, thinkers such as John Von Neumann, Eric Schmidt and others are considered pioneers in the fields of the AI revolution. Today, AI is being operated worldwide in various sectors such as health, stock markets, and IT.
AI is a new form of intelligence operated on electronic devices such as PCs and tablets, without human intervention. The novelty of AI is that it can learn about things by analysing the treasure trove of data present on the internet
However, one area where AI can change the face of any country is India. Hence, it is necessary to articulate the issue of integration of AI into the operational arsenal of the Indian Armed Forces.
Intelligent Missiles
With the DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organisation) playing a pivotal role in manufacturing, testing and using India’s missile arsenal, AI could come in handy, especially in ascertaining targets worldwide. As AI thrives on the consumption of data, which enables it to learn on its own, credible intel in the form of satellite feed, locational setting of the target, and operational complexities of the targets concerned, which when uploaded on the electronic component of the missiles, can enable the missiles to lock on to the necessary targets and strike it with the least possible number of casualties if the target is located in a densely populated area without the need for any human intervention.
This must be tested on the missiles that are used by hunter-killers i.e., attack drones. The acquisition of 30 predator MQ-9B drones for offensive use by the armed forces can become the first testing ground for this exciting new technology. Developing this new technology, however, will require extensive investment in education, particularly science and technology.
With DRDO playing a pivotal role in manufacturing, testing and using India’s missile arsenal, AI could come in handy, especially in ascertaining targets worldwide. Predator MQ-9B drones can become the first testing ground for this exciting new technology
Efforts must be made to develop new centres of excellence for technical institutes in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to expand the possibility of developing this new and exciting AI-oriented capacity to bolster the technical prowess of the Indian Armed Forces.
Cyberspace
Kautilya, a philosopher and statesman, who was the author of Arthashastra and the first prime minister of the Mauryan Empire, emphasised the need to use stratagems to win any battle in his text Arthashastra. He outlined these as – Saama, Daam, Danda & Bheda. Keeping this sagacious advice in mind, we are well aware of the capability of rumour as a tool of offence. Fast forward to the present day, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has demonstrated to the world the pervasive use of fake news as a tool of defence and offence. In that context, the defence mandarins of the Indian Armed Forces are well aware of the potentiality of cyberspace as a forum for feeding disinformation into the social media landscape of antagonistic countries to disrupt their social harmony and cause unrest in that country.
Hence, the Indian government must emphasise expanding its AI potential to strengthen its cyberspace capability to use disinformation as a tool of statecraft both in times of war and peace. Efforts must be made to improve the computational capacity of AI so that it can reach the level of AGI or Artificial General Intelligence, thereby directing this intelligent virtual life form to use its potent capacity to change the narrative of important socio-political issues to ensure that the foe isn’t given any chance to retaliate against us.
There is immense scope to integrate AI into the human brain as the integration would allow soldiers to assess battlefield scenarios better, adapt faster to trying situations and use the power of the data to bring about the best outcomes
Super Soldier
While this may seem the stuff of science fiction, there is a strong possibility of using AI to integrate AI into human conscience. Science fiction writers like Isaac Asimov visualised the pervasive use of technology in the future, today this is slowly becoming a reality.
In this context, it is necessary to direct attention to bolstering human-machine capacity by emulating Neuralink-like phenomena in India. What differentiates human beings from AI is the possession of consciousness. The academic discourse on the matter defines consciousness as the subjective experiences of human beings. Research institutes must be encouraged to collaborate with aspiring enterpreneurs to develop and fund startups that allow the experimentation of the human mind with the help of electronic chips.
While this may be done on a pilot basis, there is immense scope for integration of AI into the human brain wherein the integration would allow soldiers to assess battlefield scenarios better, adapt faster to trying situations and use the power of the data to bring about the best outcomes.
Hence, it is clear that AI will play a pivotal role in shaping the defence prowess of our country soon, it is time to integrate it in a big way.
–The writer is currently working as a Research Associate at Defence Research and Studies (dras.in) and is a columnist. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
