AI arms race: U.S & China compete to deploy lethal autonomous robots
To tackle the threat posed by China’s growing prominence, Australia’s navy engineers are working on an artificial intelligence-powered submarine that will not have a human crew.
artificial intelligence
Highlights
- Australia unveils Ghost Shark, an uncrewed naval asset as large as a school bus
- China is building up its military faster than at any time since World War II
To keep up with the ever-growing power of China, Australia’s Navy is diving deep into two distinct areas of advanced submarine technology.
One of these technologies is expensive and slow, and it will be used to build a new fleet of 13 nuclear attack submarines.
On the other hand, the other is cheaper and faster. This technology will be used to manufacture three unmanned submarines powered by AI called Ghost Sharks, which will cost over $23 million each.
It must be noted that the Ghost Sharks should be ready to go by the middle of 2025.
AI-powered killer robots poised to shape US-China rivalry https://t.co/QnQ0SCse5Q
— candacemariecooper (@candies2639) September 8, 2023
Revotutionalising submarine design
The design philosophy of an uncrewed submarine is significantly different from that of a human-crewed one, as demonstrated by the ability to reimagine the structure and systems without the need for human help or support.
This is a fundamental factor in the development, manufacture, and performance of a submarine, according to Shane Arnott, Anduril’s Senior Vice President of engineering. Here, it must be mentioned that Anduril, an Australian company, is leading the way when it comes to building the Ghost Shark, a new type of submarine for Australia's Navy.
Shift towards uncrewed submarines
With its know-how and cutting-edge technology, Anduril is changing the way naval engineering works. With the move to uncrewed submarines, naval engineering is becoming more flexible, cost-effective, and able to respond to new defense and security threats.
Preparing for the unexpected
Arnott stresses that it is not feasible to wait for an extended period of time, such as five to ten years or even several decades, in order to address these security issues and strengthen Australia's defense posture. The timeframe for addressing these security issues is time-consuming and requires prompt action and innovation.
Tech dominance in the strategic competition
This competition between countries is all about AI and autonomous weapons, like Ghost Shark, and it could have a huge impact on which country will have the upper hand in the world.
It's a reminder that technology needs to be used in a wide range of ways, from national security to diplomacy and how to tackle global issues.
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