How China aims to augment its military strength using AI

This is the 119th article in the series -- The China Chronicles. In its quest to become a formidable superpower, China under Xi Jinping has placed special significance on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Hence, while advancements in AI can contribute to China's economy and healthcare, among others, it can also strengthen the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by enabling it to engage in "intelligentised warfare" (智能化作战), defined by PLA strategists as "the operationalisation of artificial intelligence and its enabling technologies, such as cloud computing, big data analytics, quantum information and unmanned systems, for military applications." China's military leaders and strategists have astutely recognised that AI and related technologies--such as machine learning, human-machine teaming[i], neural networking, and autonomous systems (also referred to as "intelligentised weapons")[ii]--are key to gaining an edge in the next generation of warfare. At the same time, they are also anxious that other countries, mainly the US, may beat them in this realm and acquire the capability to overwhelm China's air defenses and attack their command-and-control systems.