India announces to use artificial intelligence to develop weapon systems

According to the Times of India, a 17-person working group is currently developing an artificial intelligence roadmap for the Indian military. In the next two years, the working group will recommend the government ways to apply machine learning to the air force, navy, army, cybersecurity, nuclear, and biological resources. Specifically, it will involve areas such as autonomous weapon systems and unmanned surveillance.

The above-mentioned 17-member team is headed by Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of Tata Sons, and also includes members of the Indian Army, Navy, Atomic Energy Commission and Ministry of Finance. It is expected that the group will submit its first report to the Indian government within the next three months.

“The task force will make recommendations on […] establishing tactical deterrence in the region and visualizing potential transformative weaponry, [and] developing intelligent, autonomous robotic systems, and bolstering cyber defence,” an Indian official told the media.

In April of this year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated at the national defense expo held in Chennai that artificial intelligence and robots will become the most important determinants of future military affairs. He said that India will use its position in the field of information technology to make full use of artificial intelligence technology.

India’s latest statement will likely cause global criticism and boycott. Previously, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk and the late astronomer Hawking all called for the ban on the use of artificial intelligence to develop autonomous weapons, saying that this move may trigger an arms race or even trigger World War III. Obviously, India has set a very bad precedent.