China is developing submarines capable of independent thought.

Chinese scientists are developing artificial intelligence (AI) systems for nuclear submarines to improve the thinking capabilities of command teams and the chances of winning underwater battles.SputnikNews reported on February 5th.

According to an anonymous expert, operating in confined spaces for extended periods at sea can create significant psychological stress and impair the decision-making abilities of submarine commanders.

Given this reality, AI systems that support decision-making from "the system's own perspective" will help reduce the workload and "mental burden" on submarine commanders. AI will mimic the work of the human brain but will be capable of processing significantly more information and doing so much faster.

In combat situations, AI can assist commanding officers by providing assessments of the combat environment, offering comprehensive analyses of how seawater salinity and temperature will affect the accuracy of sonar systems.

Furthermore, AI can also help them weigh the risks and benefits of certain conflicts, even offering suggestions that the crew might not be able to consider.

The AI ​​systems on Chinese submarines are given priority.The structure should be simple to minimize the risk of failure, while also being compact and compatible with existing computer systems.

"It's like stuffing an elephant into a refrigerator. Even with AI systems, the number of crew members on a submarine wouldn't be reduced."Human intervention is still necessary at every crucial moment," this expert stated.

However, some other experts are concerned.The uncontrolled development of artificial intelligence could lead to unpredictable consequences.

"We could have a submarine with a nuclear arsenal large enough to destroy an entire continent, just like in science fiction movies. This is the risk that governments should consider when equipping submarines with artificial intelligence."Zhu Min, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a leading scientist in the country's ocean exploration program, emphasized this point.