Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

CategoryMilitary

viking-longships-approaching-at-sunset-illustration-stockpack-adobe-stock
Viking Longships Approaching at Sunset - illustration
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 21, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Events, Military
Tagged
,

Expert in Defense and Technology To Speak at COSM

By looking to the past, historian Arthur Herman charts a hopeful path into the future
News
September 21, 2021
3
Artificial Intelligence, Events, Military

This November, historian Arthur Herman will be addressing the use of artificial intelligence in military preparedness at COSM 2021, an exclusive national summit exploring the myriad ways in which technology is shaping the world around us. Herman received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota and his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in history and classics. Since then, he has written nine books, including New York Times bestseller How the Scots Invented the Modern World, Pulitzer Prize finalist Gandhi and Churchill: The Epic Rivalry that Destroyed an Empire and Forged Our Age, and Freedom’s Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, which was named one of the Economist’s Best Books of 2012. Herman is now a senior Read More ›

dozens-of-drones-swarm-in-the-cloudy-sky-stockpack-adobe-stock
Dozens of Drones Swarm in the Cloudy Sky.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
August 23, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Military
Tagged
, , , , , ,

EMPs Could Combat Vast Drone Swarms Better Than Weapons

Electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) that knock out electronics could be weaponized to disable swarms of enemy drones, a predicted new warfare development
News
August 23, 2021
11
Artificial Intelligence, Military

In “EMPs from the sun can wipe computers — and streetlights,” Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks spoke with electrical engineer Sarah Seguin about electromagnetic pulses (August 12, 2021). Whether natural or designed, these surges can wreck unexpected havoc with electronics. In this third podcast, “EMPs and Warfare,” engineers Marks and Seguin talk about the national defense implications of, for example, using EMPs to knock out key electronics systems in submarines or drone swarms, thus dooming them (August 19, 2021): https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-Episode-148-Sarah-Seguin.mp3 This portion begins at 09:45 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Robert J. Marks: Okay. Well, let’s talk a bit about EMPs and warfare. Clearly anybody that has a capability of doing a thermonuclear Read More ›

burning-wires-on-the-computer-power-on-a-black-background-close-up-burnt-computer-equipment-stockpack-adobe-stock
burning wires on the computer power on a black background, close-up, burnt computer equipment
Type
post
Author
News
Date
August 20, 2021
Categorized
Environment, Global Technology, Military, Science
Tagged
, , , , , , , , ,

EMPs From the Sun Can Wipe Computers — and Streetlights

Electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) can do that as accidents of nature. But they can also be weaponized. Russia and China both have the technology to detonate at EMP from space.
News
August 20, 2021
17
Environment, Global Technology, Military, Science

In “Are your electronics protected against sudden surges?, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks spoke with electrical engineer Sarah Seguin about electromagnetic pulses. (August 5, 2021) Whether natural or designed, these surges can wreck unexpected havoc with electronics. In this second podcast, “EMPs. Be afraid. Be very afraid,” Marks, himself a computer and electrical engineer, and Seguin delve further into the risks (August 12, 2021). For example, in 1989, an electromagnetic coronal mass ejection from the sun infiltrated power plants across North America and northern Europe and destroyed a nuclear power plant’s transformer: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-147-Sarah-Seguin.mp3 This portion begins at 00:13 min. A partial transcript, Show Notes, and Additional Resources follow. Robert J. Marks: Welcome to Mind Matters News. I’m your Read More ›

shamanic-girl-with-frame-drum-on-abstract-structured-space-background-stockpack-adobe-stock
shamanic girl with frame drum on abstract structured space background.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
August 2, 2021
Categorized
Arts & Culture, Military, Religion
Tagged
, , ,

A Glimpse of Sci-Fi in a World of Panpsychism — Sci-fi Saturday

Shamanism isn’t science, of course, but it makes more fictional sense in a sci-fi world where everything has a soul than one where nothing does
News
August 2, 2021
17
Arts & Culture, Military, Religion

“The Shaman” at DUST (July 30, 2021) by Marco Kalantari (2015 at IMDB, 16:16) The dark year 2204, in a world that has seen 73 years of continuous war. Recently mankind re-discovered the arts of Shamanism. The Shaman’s school of thought believes that every person or object has a soul. During battle Shamans step over into the Netherworld to find and convert the souls of their enemies’ giant battle machines. This tactic enables a single man to overcome an invincibly seeming steel monster. This is the story of Joshua, a Shaman, who is sent on a mission to convert the soul of a giant battle colossus. He does not yet know that the soul is prepared for his coming and Read More ›

they-knows-stockpack-unsplash
They Knows.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
June 26, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Military, Science
Tagged
, , , ,

The Pentagon’s UAP (UFO) Report Signals a Sharp Attitude Change

The brass have committed themselves to going “wherever the data takes us”
News
June 26, 2021
4
Artificial Intelligence, Military, Science

As promised, the Pentagon released its UAP (UFO) report. And what did they find? First, they … lack sufficient data to determine the nature of mysterious flying objects observed by American military pilots including whether they are advanced earthly technologies, atmospherics or of an extraterrestrial origin. Steve Gorman, “Watershed U.S. UFO report does not rule out extraterrestrial origin” at Reuters via Yahoo News (June 25, 2021) But read on: The report marked a turning point for the U.S. government after the military spent decades deflecting, debunking and discrediting observations of unidentified flying objects and “flying saucers” dating back to the 1940s. Steve Gorman, “Watershed U.S. UFO report does not rule out extraterrestrial origin” at Reuters via Yahoo News (June 25, Read More ›

hand-of-ants-stockpack-adobe-stock
hand of ants
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
June 23, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Military
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

The Most Promising Defense Against Militarized Drone Swarms

An EMP ray beam could disable an AI swarm like a can of bug spray against a swarm of ants
Robert J. Marks
June 23, 2021
5
Artificial Intelligence, Military

Want to be scared about a use of artificial intelligence in the military? Watch the leftist video Slaughterbots or the beginning of the movie Angel Has Fallen starring drone-targeted Morgan Freeman. Swarms are hard to defeat. Kicking over an ant hill and stomping on most of the agents in a swarm doesn’t derail the ants’ collective mission. Come back in a week and the anthill is rebuilt. Likewise, if all of the agents in a drone swarm aren’t taken out, the drone swarm can still accomplish its mission. As I mention in The Case for Killer Robots, autonomous swarms of drones are among the scariest applications of AI in military weapons. Russia has developed and tested military drone swarms. So has the United States military. General John Read More ›

flying-saucers-stockpack-adobe-stock
Flying saucers
Type
post
Author
News
Date
June 19, 2021
Categorized
Military, Science
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

The UAPs (UFOs) Are “Not Caused by Any U.S. Advanced Technology”

And that’s all the Pentagon probably really knows
News
June 19, 2021
8
Military, Science

June 25, the U.S. Department of Defense will release a report on UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomena), a term now preferred to UFOs (unidentified flying objects). A number of unusual sightings since 2017 prompted Congress to ask for a report. According to space industry reporter Leonard David, the justification is airspace safety and control, not an effort to support or refute claims about alien spacecraft: “The report’s firmest conclusion, it seems, is that the vast majority of UAP happenings and their surprising maneuvers are not caused by any U.S. advanced technology programs.” That might mean, for example, UAP are entirely homegrown products of revolutionary and clandestine technological advances, whether by other countries now challenging American airspace or by the U.S. itself Read More ›

drones-fly-over-the-island-of-mauritius-in-the-indian-ocean-a-natural-landscape-with-drones-flying-over-it-quadrocopter-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Drones fly over the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. A natural landscape with drones flying over it. quadrocopter
Type
post
Author
News
Date
May 11, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Military
Tagged
, , , , ,

Marks: We Can’t Do Without Autonomous Killer Robots in Combat

As an expert in swarm intelligence, he thinks drone swarms offer specific advantages
News
May 11, 2021
3
Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, Military

Over a year ago, Robert J. Marks argued in The Case for Killer Robots for developing autonomous military weapons. As an expert in swarm intelligence, he thinks drone swarms should be given priority: Two battling drone swarms can have numerous agents who, in order to be effective in combat, individually require reaction times in the milliseconds. Humans cannot react quickly enough for one, let alone hundreds, of interacting swarm agents. Autonomous operation can be appropriate. Marks asks us to picture two gunslingers in the Old West, facing each other on Main Street. The faster draw wins. The second fastest draw is usually dead. Military strategists call the response to a threat the OODA loop: observe–orient–decide–act. Swarm conflict, in Marks’s view, Read More ›

electronics-engineer-works-with-robot-checking-voltage-and-program-response-time-computer-science-research-laboratory-with-specialists-working-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Electronics Engineer Works with Robot Checking Voltage and Program Response time. Computer Science Research Laboratory with Specialists Working.
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
April 5, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Data Privacy, Military, Surveillance
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , ,

Has the United States Lost Silicon Valley?

Once on friendly terms with the U,S, Department of Defense, Silicon Valley must consider the views of its friends in China
Denyse O'Leary
April 5, 2021
8
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Data Privacy, Military, Surveillance

Recently, we learned that China had, for the first time, surpassed the United States in AI patent filings: The development was revealed by Li Yuxiao, Deputy Head of the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies at the 7th World Internet Conference (WIC), reports SCMP. With this, China is now bolstering its position of being a leader in AI. As per the report, China had filed more than 110,000 artificial intelligence patents last year, more than the patents filed by the United States but the number of patents filed by the country has not been disclosed. “China surpasses US for the first time in artificial intelligence patent filings” at TECHregister (November 27, 2020) Now, people have been claiming that innovative competitiveness is Read More ›

high-ranking-military-man-holds-a-briefing-to-a-team-of-government-agents-and-politicians-shows-satellite-surveillance-footage-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
High-Ranking Military Man holds a Briefing to a Team of Government Agents and Politicians, Shows Satellite Surveillance Footage.
Type
post
Author
Heather Zeiger
Date
February 6, 2021
Categorized
Arts & Culture, Military
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

Sci-fi Saturday Books: Will World War III Be the U.S. vs. China?

One thing that is certain is that it will be a cyber war
Heather Zeiger
February 6, 2021
7
Arts & Culture, Military

Wired Magazine devoted its entire February 2021 issue to the first four chapters of a book depicting a near-future dystopia in which the U.S. goes to war with China. You can read the first part of the book here. The authors of 2034: A Novel of the New World War have military backgrounds and were inspired by Cold War literature that speculated on the worst-case scenario if the U.S. and Russia had gone to war. The reason for the Wired editors’ interest is that 2034 is no ordinary thriller. Admiral James Stavridis comes with a wealth of experience in how such a conflict might play out. He is a retired four-star U.S. naval officer who has received numerous medals and Read More ›

new-york-ny-march-2019-deepfake-face-manipulation-of-asian-male-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
New York, NY - MARCH, 2019: Deepfake Face Manipulation of Asian Male
Type
post
Author
News
Date
February 5, 2021
Categorized
Global Technology, Military
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Russian Diplomacy: Deepfakes and Radioactive Poisons

Because deepfakes are getting harder to spot, American news platforms waste time and energy trying to root them out
News
February 5, 2021
8
Global Technology, Military

In a recent podcast, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks hosted Denise Simon, an intelligence analyst, talking about the way hostile foreign powers can use AI to generate false information. Denise Simon discusses both deepfake attacks—and some much more sinister ones. https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-119-Denise-Simon.mp3 A partial transcript follows. This portion begins at about 17:50. Show notes and links follow. Denise Simon: That [the Maskirovka Technique of deception and deepfakes] is another component of how we try to decipher what’s real coming out of the Kremlin and what isn’t real. And even if it isn’t real, what consequences it has on influence and activities. Robert J. Marks: One of the things that Russia is invested in is artificial intelligence. Vladimir Putin has Read More ›

binary-digits-stolen-computer-data-cyber-attack-threat-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Binary digits stolen computer data, cyber attack threat
Type
post
Author
News
Date
February 4, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Global Technology, Military
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Russia Uses New Tech to Create Chaos in the United States

Information warfare is part of the new Russian warfare strategy known as the Gerasimov and Primakov doctrines
News
February 4, 2021
7
Artificial Intelligence, Global Technology, Military

In last Thursday’s podcast, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks hosted Denise Simon, an intelligence analyst, talking about the way hostile foreign powers can use AI to generate false information. Denise Simon describes that and other techniques as a “new art form” and this time she explains how Russia uses it against the United States. https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-119-Denise-Simon.mp3 A partial transcript follows. This portion begins at about 09.33. Show notes and links follow. Robert J. Marks: We’ve been talking primarily about disrupting media with fake news. What other sort of things are the Russians doing? Denise Simon: They will create fake companies in the United States. They will hide money and people in the United States. In fact, they just found Read More ›

military-rc-military-drone-flies-flies-against-backdrop-of-beautiful-clouds-on-blue-sky-background-elements-of-this-image-furnished-by-nasa-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
military RC military drone flies flies against backdrop of beautiful clouds on blue sky background. Elements of this image furnished by NASA
Type
post
Author
News
Date
January 13, 2021
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Military
Tagged
, , , , ,

#6 AI Smash Hit 2020!: AI Defeats Fighter Pilot Hands Down

The future of warfare may involve more machine waste but less human carnage
News
January 13, 2021
8
Artificial Intelligence, Military

Our Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks is back with Jonathan Bartlett and Eric Holloway, assessing their Top Ten real advances (“Smash Hits”) in AI in 2020. Readers may recall that we offered a fun series during the holidays about the oopses and ums and ers in the discipline (typically hyped by uncritical sources). So now we celebrate the real achievements. Our nerds think that #6 is what happened when AI won all the aerial dogfights in a simulated closed-world contest that was closely watched: According to Javorsek, fighter pilots need to be convinced of the capabilities and utility of AI in combat beyond current practice. DARPA’s AlphaDogfight is a step in this direction. By posing relevant questions, DARPA’s Read More ›

two-young-businesspeople-or-scientists-with-robotic-hand-standing-in-office-talking-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Two young businesspeople or scientists with robotic hand standing in office, talking.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
November 26, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Military
Tagged
, , , , , ,

Computer Prof: Feds Should Avoid University, Seek Entrepreneurs

Too much time at the U is wasted on getting papers into theoretical journals, not enough time spent on innovation, he contends
News
November 26, 2020
5
Artificial Intelligence, Military

In a recent podcast, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks spoke with Robert D. Atkinson and Jackie Whisman at the prominent AI think tank, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, about his recent book, The Case for Killer Robots—a plea for American military brass to see that AI is an inevitable part of modern defense strategies, to be managed rather than avoided. It may be downloaded free here. In this fourth part (here are Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3), the discussion turned to what the government’s top priority in tech policy should be: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-109-Robert-Marks.mp3 The discussion of a top priority in tech policy begins at 20:31 (A portion of the transcript follows. The whole transcript is here. Notes Read More ›

black-and-caucasian-female-scientists-have-work-related-discussion-male-researcher-joins-them-they-work-in-a-modern-laboratory-research-center-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Black and Caucasian Female Scientists have Work Related Discussion, Male Researcher Joins Them. They Work in a Modern Laboratory/ Research Center.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
November 25, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Military
Tagged
, , , , , ,

Is the Research Money for AI Spent at Universities Just Wasted?

A computer engineering prof tells an AI think tank about the time a four-star general visited his university
News
November 25, 2020
5
Artificial Intelligence, Military

In a recent podcast, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks spoke with Robert D. Atkinson and Jackie Whisman at the prominent AI think tank, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, about his recent book, The Case for Killer Robots—a plea for American military brass to see that AI is an inevitable part of modern defense strategies, to be managed rather than avoided. The book may be downloaded free here. In this third part (here are Part 1 and Part 2), the discussion turned to stalled AI research at universities: https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-109-Robert-Marks.mp3 The discussion of the state of AI research begins at 17:48 (A portion of the transcript follows. The whole transcript is here. Notes and links follow below.) Rob Atkinson: You Read More ›

robot-close-up-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Robot Close Up
Type
post
Author
News
Date
November 23, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Military
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , ,

AI Is Not Nearly Smart Enough to Morph Into the Terminator

Computer engineering prof Robert J. Marks offers some illustrations in an ITIF think tank interview
News
November 23, 2020
6
Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Military

In a recent podcast, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks spoke with Robert D.Atkinson and Jackie Whisman at the prominent AI think tank, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, about his recent book, The Case for Killer Robots—a plea for American military brass to see that AI is an inevitable part of modern defense strategies, to be managed rather than avoided. It may be downloaded free here. In this second part ( here’s Part 1), the discussion (starts at 6:31) turned to what might happen if AI goes “rogue.” The three parties agreed that AI isn’t nearly smart enough to turn into the Terminator: Jackie Whisman: Well, opponents of so-called killer robots, of course argue that the technologies can’t be Read More ›

swarm-of-drones-surveying-flying-over-city-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Swarm of drones surveying, flying over city
Type
post
Author
News
Date
November 20, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Military
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , , ,

Is the U.S. Military Falling Behind in Artificial Intelligence?

What is the likely outcome of allowing those with very different value systems to have control of global AI warfare technology?
News
November 20, 2020
7
Artificial Intelligence, Military

In a recent podcast, Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks spoke with Robert D. Atkinson and Jackie Whisman at the prominent AI think tank, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, about his recent book, The Case for Killer Robots—a plea for American military brass to see that AI is an inevitable part of modern defense strategies, to be managed rather than avoided. (The book may be downloaded free here.) As they jointly see the problem, There’s a lot of doomsday hype around artificial intelligence in general, and the idea of so-called “killer robots” has been especially controversial. But when it comes to the ethics of these technologies, one can argue that robots actually could be more ethical than human operators. Read More ›

armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-in-nagorno-karabakh-on-outline-map-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh on outline map
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
October 15, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Military
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

The First War Using Modern AI-Based Weapons Is Here

Most introductions of new technology in warfare will ultimately be canceled by counter-technology. But in the meantime…
Robert J. Marks
October 15, 2020
3
Artificial Intelligence, Military

AI weapons are being used in the border war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. And the results are not pretty: Israel may halt commercial weapon sales to Azerbaijan, Armenian Ambassador to Israel Armen Smbatyan told The Jerusalem Post, as fighting intensified for the ninth day between the two countries… Last week, Armenia recalled Smbatyan for consultations to protest the sale of Israeli made weapons, including drones, to Azerbaijan, which have been used against its forces. Tovah Lazaroff, “Israel may halt its weapons sale to Azerbaijan, Armenian ambassador says” at The Jerusalem Post (October 6, 2020) The most chilling—readily achievable—AI weaponry is a swarm of armed drones. Drones are inexpensive and easily deployed, and if only a few drones make it through Read More ›

view-on-russian-pilotless-air-craft-military-drones-on-exhibition-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
View on russian pilotless air craft. Military drones on exhibition
Type
post
Author
News
Date
October 15, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Military
Tagged
, , , , , , , , , ,

Russia Is Systematically Copying U.S. Military AI Robotics

In Russia’s topdown system, the military and corporations are essentially part of the same enterprise
News
October 15, 2020
10
Artificial Intelligence, Military

This week’s podcast, “AI development in Russia,” is Part 2 of a podcast featuring Walter Bradley Center director Robert J. Marks in discussion with Samuel Bendett about Russia’s intended military uses of AI. Bendett is an advisor to the Russia Studies Program and the Center for Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence of the CNA Adversary Analysis Group. Last week, Marks and Bendett discussed Russia’s advances in facial recognition techniques for the surveillance of civilians. In the background was Vladimir Putin’s famous 2017 pronouncement in 2017, “Artificial intelligence is the future not only of Russia but of all of mankind… Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.” What are the military implications? https://episodes.castos.com/mindmatters/Mind-Matters-104-Samuel-Bendett.mp3 From the Read More ›

dozens-of-drones-swarm-in-the-cloudy-sky-stockpack-adobe-stock.jpg
Dozens of Drones Swarm in the Cloudy Sky.
Type
post
Author
Robert J. Marks
Date
September 11, 2020
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Military
Tagged
, , , , , , ,

Meet the U.S. Army’s New Drone Swarms

As with insects, only a few drones need survive to accomplish their task
Robert J. Marks
September 11, 2020
4
Artificial Intelligence, Military

The US Army is developing a “swarm” of autonomous AI drones to protect combat helicopters. The swarm is modeled after social swarming insects like bees and ants who protect their queen. A drone nest protects the queen helicopter at all costs. The protective swarm’s tasks will range from sophisticated electronic warfare to acting as false targets (decoys) for incoming missiles. They will carry out theses tasks autonomously: Goals and tasks must be assigned by a person, but the way of their implementation, reaching the target or navigation and flight control is to be “in the hands of” advanced software and artificial intelligence. TOC, “The US Army is developing a ‘pocket’ swarm of combat drones” at BulgarianMilitary.com Here’s what a small Read More ›