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US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall experienced artificial intelligence (AI) in action first hand, testing autonomous flight in an AI-controlled F-16 fighter jet. Kendall had previously announced his intention to do so in front of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense panel, emphasizing the future of air warfare.
After the flight, Kendall spoke about AI’s important role in future air combat, stating that at this point, it’s a security risk not to have AI deployment.
Despite concerns over AI’s role in armed conflict and calls for greater restrictions on its use, Kendall affirmed that human supervision would remain paramount, especially when considering deploying weapons. According to him, the technology proved reliable enough to decide when to fire weapons during warfare.
The AI-controlled F-16, dubbed ‘Vista,’ performed maneuvers with Kendall onboard, reaching speeds of over 550 mph while exerting nearly five times the force of gravity on his body. Alongside them flew a human-piloted F-16.
Vista aimed to position the human pilot into submission through twists and loops during their flight. It embodies a step towards the US Air Force’s plans to deploy over 1,000 AI-operated drones by 2028. AI offers a cost-effective solution, providing numerous, expendable units to the military.
However, opponents are concerned that AI could eventually decide to deploy weapons without human involvement. The International Committee of the Red Cross, among other groups, has voiced significant concerns over this scenario, calling for stronger restrictions on AI use.
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