China develops submarines capable of thinking for themselves

Chinese scientists are developing an artificial intelligence (AI) system for nuclear submarines to improve the thinking ability of command teams and the chances of winning underwater battles,SputnikFebruary 5 news.

According to an anonymous expert, having to operate in a confined space for a long time at sea can create great psychological pressure and reduce the decision-making ability of submarine commanders.

Given that reality, an AI system that supports decision making from “its own perspective” would help reduce the workload and “mental burden” of submarine commanders. AI would mimic the work of the human brain but be able to process much more information and much faster.

In combat situations, AI can assist commanding officers by assessing the operational environment, providing an overview of how seawater salinity and temperature will affect the accuracy of sonar systems.

Additionally, AI can also help them weigh the risks and benefits of certain battles, even making suggestions that the crew could not have considered.

AI systems on Chinese submarines are given prioritysimple structure to minimize the risk of failure, while being compact and compatible with existing computer systems.

"It's like putting an elephant in a refrigerator. Even with the AI ​​system, the number of crew on the submarine is not cut.Human hands are still needed at every important moment," said this expert.

However, some other experts are concerned.The development of artificial intelligence without control can lead to unpredictable consequences.

"We could have a submarine with enough nuclear weapons to destroy a continent like in a science fiction movie. This is the risk that the government should consider when equipping artificial intelligence on submarines,"Zhu Min, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a leading scientist in the country's ocean exploration program, stressed.