Xi Jinping, at the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on October 16, stated that more quickly elevating the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to a world-class army is a strategic requirement for building a modern socialist country in all respects. At the 19th Party Congress five years ago, Xi insisted China would build a world-class army by the middle of this century; this time he did not mention a definite deadline but clearly stated that he would achieve the goal more quickly. How is Xi trying to accelerate the construction of a world-class military? The PLA is seeking to capitalize on the introduction of advanced technology, with a particular focus on the use of unmanned weapons and artificial intelligence. In this report, Xi Jinping mentioned the word "intelligent" (智能化) three times. The concept of "intelligent," which refers to the use of weapon systems based on artificial intelligence, has rapidly gained attention since the release of the 2019 National Defense White Paper.

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.

Like, if they've got ten hacker cyberwarriors crouching over consoles, then you need a hundred. Army TRADOC "Mad Scientists" less goofy than one might think Editor's Note: While Monday's post explored a U.S. perspective on Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration to military operations, today's article, excerpted from this month's OE Watch, addresses China's embrace of "Intelligentization." Intelligentization is the uniquely Chinese concept of applying AI's machine speed and processing power to military planning, operational command, and decision support. In her testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Hearing on Trade, Technology, and Military-Civil Fusion earlier this year, proclaimed Mad Scientist Elsa Kania stated that President Xi Jinping, in his report to the 19th Party Congress in October 2017, "urged the PLA to'Accelerate the development of military intelligentization" (军事智能化)….This authoritative exhortation has elevated the concept of'intelligentization' as a guiding principle for the future of Chinese military modernization." What is unique about the PLA's approach to implementing AI in force modernization is that they do not seek to merely integrate AI into existing warfighting functions; rather, they are using it to shape a new, cognitive domain and thus revolutionize their entire approach to warfighting -- Read on!] (((Okay, I will, and not for the first time, either.))) In today's world of rapidly developing concepts and technologies, many theories are emerging about what warfare will resemble in the future.

In her testimony before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Hearing on Trade, Technology, and Military-Civil Fusion earlier this year, proclaimed Mad Scientist Elsa Kania stated that President Xi Jinping, in his report to the 19th Party Congress in October 2017, "urged the PLA to'Accelerate the development of military intelligentization" (军事智能化)….This authoritative exhortation has elevated the concept of'intelligentization' as a guiding principle for the future of Chinese military modernization." What is unique about the PLA's approach to implementing AI in force modernization is that they do not seek to merely integrate AI into existing warfighting functions; rather, they are using it to shape a new, cognitive domain and thus revolutionize their entire approach to warfighting -- Read on!] In today's world of rapidly developing concepts and technologies, many theories are emerging about what warfare will resemble in the future. Nowhere does this seem truer than in ...

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.

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" (信息化). 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" (智能化) warfare.