Artificial Intelligence Algorithm Defeats A Human F-16 Fighter Pilot In A Virtual Dogfight. Here's What This Means

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in diverse domains of military activity, from intelligence to training and logistics, is being explored by various defence forces and manufacturers as the battlefield becomes increasingly technology-driven. Now, it seems, even the old school dogfights -- aerial battle between fighter aircraft -- are set to be revolutionised by AI algorithms. On 20 August, in an event organised by the US' Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) to understand how AI and machine learning can be employed in air-to-air combat, an AI algorithm defeated a human fighter pilot operating a simulated F-16 Viper fighter jet in a virtual dogfight five to zero. This event was the final dogfight of the US military's AlphaDogfight challenge, which was organised to "demonstrate the feasibility of developing intelligent autonomous agents capable of defeating adversary aircraft in a dogfight". A fighter wins a dogfight when it manages to place itself behind the enemy and remain in that position long enough to get a kill shot.