China Develops AI Commander for Military Simulations

An AI commander is being tested at the laboratory of the College of Joint Operations at the National Defense University in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, according to SCMP.

The tests are conducted in computer-based military games involving all branches of the People’s Liberation Army of China. The virtual commander is granted full authority, learns quickly, and enhances its skills in virtual warfare.

China conducts military simulations of potential conflicts in regions such as Taiwan and the South China Sea. However, these require human commanders to make on-the-spot decisions in response to unforeseen events.

The number of senior commanders and their availability are limited, making it impossible to conduct a large number of simulations. In such cases, the AI commander replaces humans, making decisions independently within the laboratory.

“The initial setup of the AI commander reflected an experienced and brilliant strategist with strong mental abilities, a balanced and resilient character, capable of calmly analyzing and assessing situations. It makes decisions quickly but is devoid of [human] emotionality and impulsiveness in this process,” the researchers noted.

The AI commander relies on empirical knowledge when making decisions, seeking satisfactory options based on similar situations in its memory. To impart a sense of humanity to the AI, scientists have imposed limitations on the size of its knowledge base, making the commander forgetful.

In January 2023, China launched an autonomous maritime reconnaissance vessel equipped with artificial intelligence.

In March 2024, the United States called for a global consensus on AI.