USA-China near-military incident: AI as a new military risk

A flawed US intelligence report created with the help of AI almost led to the US military storming a Chinese ship in the middle of the Iran war and possibly triggering a military conflict with the People's Republic, according to a report by US broadcaster CNN. According to four anonymous sources, the ship was transporting parts of a nuclear weapons program in the Middle East. According to two sources, the US military has already prepared the boarding. Only then was it discovered that a chatbot had provided incorrect information and the report was completely wrong.

The CNN report remains vague in many ways, but the report is still worrying because its content cannot be ruled out. Of course, intelligence information based solely on human intelligence is not error-free, and is sometimes even invented or deliberately biased in order to influence political decisions. And there has always been a risk that conflicts will escalate due to misunderstandings or misjudgments.

The CNN report comes against the backdrop of the debate about the dangers of AI to all humanity and shortly before the planned meeting of the presidents of the USA and China on Thursday. It will also be about AI; both states are striving for hegemony in this new technology. This is precisely why both governments want nothing to do with a slowdown in AI development or general regulation - at least not for themselves.

The taz is an independent, left-wing and opinionated daily newspaper. We have been arguing in our comments, essays and debate texts since the taz was founded in 1979. We often cannot and do not want to agree on an opinion. That's why you'll find some completely opposing positions here - all part of the very broad left-wing spectrum of opinions.

But if there's one thing to take away from the CNN report, it's the urgent need for AI regulation. It is important to minimize their risks and create the greatest possible transparency and democratic control. Unfortunately, this is almost as impossible with secret services as it is with authoritarian systems like in China, an increasingly autocratic Trump or the almost uncontrolled IT companies. Nevertheless, there is no alternative to the demand.