“An AI arms race is already underway” – Heiko Maas

Marin IvezicJuly 7, 2021

1 minute read

We’re on the brink of a new era in warfare where artificial intelligence (AI) is the star of the show. AI has the potential to make military forces quicker, smarter, and more efficient. But if we’re not careful, it could also throw the world into chaos.

Heiko Maas, Germany’s foreign minister, is not holding back about the fact that an AI arms race has already kicked off. As he bluntly put it, “We’re right in the middle of it.”

The fight for supremacy among the world’s biggest powers is getting intense. And it’s not just big powers that are in on this. Smaller countries are also getting their hands dirty.

From “kamikaze drones,” or loitering munitions, first used in 2020 in Nagorno-Karabakh, AI-driven drone swarms that will soon become common in military use, the adoption of autonomy in warfare is leading to quicker, more complex battles that humans can’t keep up with. This could cause “flash wars” – sudden conflicts started by autonomous systems reacting to each other.

Germany’s foreign minister, Heiko Maas, has been outspoken about the need for a treaty on development and use of such weapons.

For more info, see: Germany warns: AI arms race already underway

Marin Ivezic

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For 30+ years, I've been committed to protecting people, businesses, and the environment from the physical harm caused by cyber-kinetic threats, blending cybersecurity strategies and resilience and safety measures. Lately, my worries have grown due to the rapid, complex advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Having observed AI's progression for two decades and penned a book on its future, I see it as a unique and escalating threat, especially when applied to military systems, disinformation, or integrated into critical infrastructure like 5G networks or smart grids. More about me, and about Defence.AI.