When we talk about military technologies, images of futuristic devices and software are evoked, the result of astronomical budgets and top-secret research. But in an era where AI has become democratized, with tech giants and start-ups pushing the accelerator of innovation, the gap between defense and commercial sectors may not be so wide.
The competition is open: has artificial intelligence also been developed for a use other than civilian use? Are the "devilry" of ChatGPT and colleagues already the prerogative of the military sector? And if so, is “war” AI still a step forward or is it losing its traditional advantage?
The competitive context of AI
The race for artificial intelligence has taken on a global dimension: nations and companies are investing huge resources to avoid being left behind. Military sectors, famously at the forefront of technology, are now faced with a reality in which the private sector not only competes but, in some cases, appears to lead innovation. Google, OpenAI, Facebook and other companies have created AI systems that amaze with their capabilities, often with open source applications that further accelerate innovation.
Military secrecy versus open innovation
The advantage of military secrecy is indisputable: projects like those of DARPA have led to revolutionary developments, often kept hidden for years. However, the open approach of civil industry has allowed rapid diffusion and improvement of technologies. Sharing discoveries and algorithms has created an ecosystem where innovation is constant and often driven by the community itself.
AI and national defense
Despite commercial expansion, military AI maintains areas of supremacy, especially in critical areas such as national security. Systems surveillance advanced, autonomous drones and simulations of cyber war these are just some of the applications that benefit from investments and developments that are rarely reflected in the civil sector.
These systems are often at the forefront of managing and analyzing large amounts of data, a key aspect for national security. In this sense, military artificial intelligence is still ahead.
by how much?
The NSA, the American National Security Agency, has been training some form of artificial intelligence since at least the beginning of the 2000s. The evidence is a frenzied rush to hire, and September 11th amply justified the economic coverage for these activities. Of course, at this point, what it is currently capable of is 100% classified, the details of the various classified programs are completely unknown to me.
And I don't even want to speculate: if I had wanted all the certainties I would have been born a conspiracy theorist, I prefer to limit myself to applying reasonable doubts and realism. Military technologies are obviously just far enough ahead to be concerned. And not for the time advantage, of course, but for the use made of it.
The role of military and civilian AI
The future of AI is a battleground between technological progress and ethics. While the military sector may be tempted to develop increasingly autonomous systems, civil society questions the impact of such technologies on daily life and work. The debate also extends to the responsibility of decisions made by AI systems, a topic that deeply affects both the military and civilian sectors.
In conclusion, like all military technologies, military AI still enjoys advantages in terms of time, resources and secrecy, but the gap is narrowing. Open innovation and global collaboration are shaping a new landscape in which the civilian sector not only competes with but, in some cases, surpasses military accomplishments.
The challenge for the future will be to balance technological advances with ethical and strategic considerations, ensuring that AI is used for the common good and not to harm humans. It will be necessary to maintain an open and multidisciplinary dialogue, involving experts from different areas to navigate the future of artificial intelligence with wisdom and responsibility.
