Pentagon Embraces Artificial Intelligence

Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter, center, in Mountain View, Calif., on Wednesday. He said the military faced challenges in translating civilian technology. Credit Andrew Burton for The New York Times

New York Times: Pentagon Turns to Silicon Valley for Edge in Artificial Intelligence

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — In its quest to maintain a United States military advantage, the Pentagon is aggressively turning to Silicon Valley’s hottest technology — artificial intelligence.

On Wednesday, Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter made his fourth trip to the tech industry’s heartland since being named to his post last year. Before that, it had been 20 years since a defense secretary had visited the area, he noted in a speech at a Defense Department research facility near Google’s headquarters.

The Pentagon’s intense interest in A.I. — and by connection the Silicon Valley companies specializing in that technology — has grown out of the “Third Offset” strategy articulated by Mr. Carter last fall. Concerned about the re-emergence of China and Russia as military competitors, he stated that computer-based, high-tech weapons would give the American military an edge in the future.

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Update: Artificial Intelligence for the Next War (Quneton Hardy), New York Times)

WNU Editor: Leaving the decision on using lethal force to "software" is a path that the Pentagon has embraced and is now pushing forward. Is this the right course .... I wish I knew the answer (my gut is saying no) but the debate on pursuing such weapon platforms is currently lacking and/or non-existent.