China to build artificially intelligent, fire and forget, cruise missiles

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By Matthew Griffin Intelligence and the Senses 4th January 2017

WHY THIS MATTERS IN BRIEF

The increasing use of intelligent, autonomous systems is getting people spooked, so much so that the UN are getting involved

It’s the start of 2017 and I knew there was a void – something I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but something I knew the world needed. Yes – forget healing and helping people, let’s strap artificial intelligence (AI) into a new cruise missile. Learn to live in harmony people! Fortunately though the UN will be debating the use of AI and autonomous “robo-weapons” this year so stay tuned.

This week China, which it has to be said probably isn’t alone in this endeavour, has announced that it is “eyeing” the use of a high level AI and automation for its next generation of cruise missiles. And it’s very hard not to see why they won’t end up building these systems, particularly when you look at their track record of investments and developments.

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“We plan to adopt a ‘plug and play’ approach in the development of our new cruise missiles, which will enable our military commanders to tailor-make missiles in accordance with combat conditions,” said Wang Changqing of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation told the state-run China Daily newspaper.

“Moreover, our future cruise missiles will have a very high level of artificial intelligence and automation,” he added, “they will allow commanders to control them in real time manner, or to use a fire-and-forget mode, or even to add more tasks to missiles that are in flight.”

China is already a global leader in the field of using artificial intelligence in missiles, Wang added, without elaborating and it’s no secret that Chinese President Xi Jinping is overseeing an ambitious military modernization program that includes everything from stealthy, hypersonic weaponry, including hypersonic submarines, to aircraft carriers and quantum radar systems which would make America’s own stealth programs obsolete overnight.

It’s therefore no surprise that the news has rattled China’s neighbours, several of whom are engaged in territorial disputes with it, particularly around China’s aggressive military expansion in the South China sea, and back at home the US is also wary of China’s growing assertiveness.

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China says it has no hostile intent and that it needs a modern military to protect its legitimate security needs as the world’s second-largest economy and it’s clear that they have attached particular importance to missile development, including testing anti-missile missiles and anti-satellite missiles so this is simply the latest in a long line of announcements still to come.

Matthew Griffin / About Author

Described by NASA as a "Walking Encyclopaedia of the Future" and one of the world’s most in demand keynote speakers Matthew Griffin, Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm, is a multi-award winning Futurist and strategic foresight expert, author, lecturer, mentor, podcast and YouTube host.

With a distinguished career running global business units at Atos, EMC, and IBM today Matthew helps leaders and titans of industry from all over the world explore the impact of the inter sections of technology, culture, and leadership, then helps them create high performance organisations that can continuously disrupt, outpace, and outthink their competition.

15 times author of the hit series the Codex of the Future series Matthew's ability to identify, track, and explain the impacts of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends on global business, culture, and society has earned him a powerful reputation and a roster of clients that include royal households, world leaders across the G7, G20, and G77, and many of the world's most recognised and exceptional organisations including ABB, Accenture, ABN Amro, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi Group, Coca Cola, Deloitte, Dentons, Disney, Dow, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Microsoft, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Nokia, Paramount, PepsiCo, PWC, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, T-Mobile, UBS, Visa, WIRED, WPP and hundreds of others.

Matthew is regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, and his mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.