America's Newsroom anchor Bill Hemmer looks back at the top headlines of the past 12 months. The mainstream attention on artificial intelligence (AI) in 2023 allowed militaries to more openly discuss some of the astonishing initiatives they've undertaken as they race toward the future of warfare. AI presented an entirely different challenge and revealed an arms race many did not even know had already gotten well underway: Advanced and automated targeting capabilities, virtual environment weapon testing and AI-controlled vehicles present just the tip of a substantial and rapidly developing iceberg. The allure of AI is so strong that the Pentagon has some 800 AI-related unclassified projects in the works to attain a "force multiplier" integration and gain the upper hand over its rivals. This year gave the general public a better idea of where militaries stand with their astonishing development and where they might head next.

Israel touts the capabilities of its new AI-enhanced tank, the "Barak" (or "Lightning"), which provides a full 360-degree awareness of the environment, as demonstrated in the video with animation. Israel unveiled the "Barak" tank as its newest artificial intelligence (AI)-powered military advancement, promising a "new era" in combat capabilities. "The Barak tank is very innovative – it takes our maneuvering capabilities to another level, and it is a clear expression of our technological capabilities," Israeli Minister of Defense (IMOD) Yoav Gallant said of the tank, whose name translates to "lightning." "I would like to express my appreciation to the engineers of the Tank and APC Administration, the Israeli Ground Forces and all those involved in the professional process," he added. The fifth-generation Barak tank introduces a 360-degree awareness capability, giving a total vision of the battlefield. In a video that features animated segments to demonstrate the tank's potential, an IDF operator is able to identify targets both in front and behind his tank thanks to a specially designed helmet that helps him filter battlefield data.