Even as the Chinese military is investing heavily in modernisation and is even reportedly planning to build the world's largest unmanned military force, it has warned its armed forces against banking heavily on artificial intelligence saying AI should be a tool to guide but not a replacement for human decision-making in the battlefield as it lacks self-awareness capability.
As AI evolves, it must remain a tool guided by human judgment, and strategic adaptability remains at the forefront of military decision-making, an article published in People's Liberation Army Daily, the official media of the Chinese military, said on New Year's Eve.
Observing that AI can be used to augment human capabilities through data analysis, simulations or planning but cannot replace the human factor, the article said it must work in tandem with human decision-makers to optimise command effectiveness. AI should enhance and not replace human agency, it added.
The article pointed out that human autonomy and creativity are indispensable on the battlefield and said while human commanders can respond to situations dynamically, and exploit enemy weaknesses, AI operates within predefined algorithmic boundaries and its responses often lack originality.
The Daily said PLA preferred a model where humans plan and AI executes in which the technology is used to carry out the strategies and tactics developed by commanders and keeps an element of human oversight.
The military prefers a structure where machines analyse data, provide insights and suggest potential actions. However, final decisions rest with human commanders, safeguarding against errors stemming from AI's black-box nature, the South China Morning Post report said.
The article further pointed out that technology is unable to reflect on its own actions or take responsibility for its decisions, unlike human commanders who can refine their plans in response to the circumstances.
Even advanced systems, such as autonomous missile defence, typically rely on human operators for final decisions to ensure accountability.
