Artificial Intelligence (AI) has proved to be a path-breaking experience in many fields in the contemporary world. AI is catching the attention of defense professionals, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and multinational corporations around the globe. The pioneer of AI, John McCarthy, defines it as "the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, brilliant computer programs." The capacity of AI generally refers to the ability of machines to outperform human actions in terms of intelligence, judgment, autonomy, and knowledge discovery. AI has the potential to develop software applications based on self-learning that replicates the qualities of the human mind, resembling decision-making, problem-solving, reasoning, planning, etc.

The People's Liberation Army has yet to adopt a definition, let alone a formal plan, for "intelligentization (智能化)," a Chinese vision for the transformation of warfare through artificial intelligence and automation. But Chinese military theorists see it as a rare opportunity for "leapfrog development" over adversaries. One author suggests that Star Wars will "become a reality"; another says the fantasies from "mythological fiction" will come true. Their writings, while not authoritative, have coalesced around several key themes that offer a crucial glimpse into potential PLA thinking and ambitions. Whereas these earlier eras of warfare turned on "mechanization" in the "physical space" and "informationization" in the "information space," PLA theorists argue that intelligentization will center upon a "cognitive space" that privileges complex thinking and effective decision-making.

Recent use of a satellite controlled weapons platform used in the killing of Iranian nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh has invited international attention probably for the fact that a remotely controlled machine gun mounted on a pickup was used to pointedly kill him. It is for the first time that the machine gun was controlled remotely using advanced cameras and artificial intelligence and targeted only one individual without causing any collateral damage. Artificial intelligence-based platforms are the future of any battlefield. They can be easily deployed without being detected easily and cause havoc through enemy fire. They are stealthy and very effective. "The development of remote-controlled devices has seen phenomenal development since US forces started targeting terrorist networks with precise accuracy using the drones.

With increased speed, enhanced force and lower cost, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) on weapons will define the next generation of warfare, Gary Butler, founder of Starkville-based tech company Camgian Microsystems, told Starkville Rotary Club members Monday afternoon. Butler, a Mississippi native, has been working on advanced technology for roughly 20 years, with a focus on sensor systems and AI-based technologies, according to his LinkedIn page. Over the years, he has worked on system development with the U.S. military and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Camgian, which he founded in 2006, has provided research and development service to several government and financial agencies. With years of experience researching AI technology and its military use, Butler said the application of the technology in weaponry seems the natural step.

To illustrate how artificial intelligence (AI) could affect the future battlefield, consider the following scenario based on a future book I am writing entitled The Senkaku Paradox: Risking Great Power War over Limited Stakes. The scenario, imagined to occur sometime between now and 2040, begins with a hypothesized Russian "green men" attack against a small farming village in eastern Estonia or Latvia. Russia's presumed motive would be to sow discord and dissent within NATO, weakening the alliance. Estonia and Latvia are NATO member states, and thus the United States is sworn to defend them. But in the event of such a Russian aggression, a huge, direct NATO response may or may not be wise.

When Pentagon Officials speak about a technology you know it's a serious topic of public concern. And the tech on spot now is artificial intelligence, where a senior official in the DoD (Department of Defense) has come out clear to explain how AI and robots will be a key factor in deciding outcomes on future battlefields. Ideally, there's a lot to ponder when machine intelligence is spoken about under the glare of security matters, in fact, this has also been a major topic with experts. To succeed in maintaining national security the concerned bodies need to also, evolve with emerging technologies. Michael D. Griffin, in a report, explained that national security is a product of consistent exploration of rising technologies.

A senior official from the Pentagon recently stated that artificial intelligence would likely be a valuable asset in the future of warfare. The Department of Defense official issued his bold statement at the New America Future of War Conference.

Virginia-based private company Six3 Advanced Systems was awarded an $11-million fixed-fee contract "to design, develop, and validate system prototypes for a combined-arms squad, which combines humans and unmanned assets, ubiquitous communications and information," according to a Pentagon press release. Six3, a subsidiary to the major American defense contractor CACI International, provides sensor development and signal processing technologies for the US Intelligence Community and the military, according to Bloomberg. The statement added the next-generation system should bring "advanced capabilities in all domains to maximize squad performance in increasingly complex operational environments." The news follows scientific predictions that the future warfare will see extensive use of robotic platforms powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and equipped with next-generation weapons systems. Combat robots and military-use AI solutions will become an inherent part of the US military within the next 10-15 years, defense experts say.

Although China could initially only observe the advent of the Information-Technology Revolution in Military Affairs, the People's Liberation Army might presently have a unique opportunity to take advantage of the military applications of artificial intelligence to transform warfare. When the United States first demonstrated its superiority in network-centric warfare during the first Gulf War, the PLA was forced to confront the full extent of its relative backwardness in information technology. Consequently, the PLA embarked upon an ambitious agenda of "informatization" (???). To date, the PLA has advanced considerably in its capability to utilize information to enhance its combat capabilities, from long-range precision strike to operations in space and cyberspace. Currently, PLA thinkers anticipate the advent of an "intelligentization Revolution in Military Affairs" that will result in a transformation from informatized ways of warfare to future "intelligentized" (???) warfare. For the PLA, this emerging trend heightens the imperative of keeping pace with the U.S. military's progress in artificial intelligence, after its failure to do so in information technology.