The race between the United States and China to apply artificial intelligence (AI) in air combat is heating up. While the US started testing AI applications in air combat earlier than China, the groundbreaking work by Chinese scientists is poised to transform the future of air battles.
Despite prevailing AI technologies operating like “black boxes,” the Chinese team led by Zhang Dong has developed an AI combat system that can explain its instructions using words, data, and charts, enabling better communication between pilots and AI.
While the US faces challenges with the “black box” issue, China’s approach to AI-human interaction in air combat presents a novel strategy. Chinese military emphasizes rigorous safety assessments for AI integration in fighter jets, focusing on decoding the decision-making process for enhanced trust and combat effectiveness.
With Zhang’s team showcasing the capabilities of their AI in various scenarios, the future of AI in air combat holds both promise and potential risks, as it blurs the line between humans and machines.