AI and Cybersecurity (2/2)War, shifted from information revolution to intelligent information revolution

This article is written by Mr. Izumi Harada , Executive Fellow, Institute for International Socio-Economic Studies（NEC Group）

Military Revolution by intelligent information
When new innovative technology is invented, weapons which have not been produced in the conventional technology are newly produced and the revolution starts also in the military strategy and organization.
The evolution of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in USA in 1990s ignited RMA（Revolution in Military Affairs）by information revolution. On top of conventional war weapons USA invented and deployed such weapons and tools closely networked with intelligent network system as Satellite, Ground surveillance radar mounted reconnaissance aircraft, Stealth aircraft, Precision-guided weapons, High-tech sensor, and Command and control system, and maintained overwhelming military superiority leading to the crushing victory in the Gulf War.

Currently AI (Artificial Intelligence) which is following the above movement and is the ultimate goal is playing the role of shifting the way of war from information revolution to intelligent information revolution.
AI can contribute to more accurate and speedy judgement of commander in the battle field on military situation and can make military training and exercise more practical if AI is combined with the technology of VR (Virtual Reality).
Further on the advanced technology of image recognition and machine learning improve substantially the ability of some weapons for the accurate recognition of the military target.
Based on these achievements it is considered that AI is powered enough to make substantial change of the total way of war in such ways as reforming military tactics, military weapons system and bringing the changes in commander’s judgement on military situation, military staff activities, military forces operation and military exercises.

Autonomous Selection of Targets
Military weapons such as “AWS（Autonomous Weapons Systems）” which can make autonomous selection and decision on the target by machine learning and program and are installing AI in the robots or drone (flying robot) are completely different in concept from conventional weapons such as missile and unmanned attack aircraft programed in advance by human for the target.
Among AWS the specific military weapons designed to destroy military facilities and to kill humans is identified as “LAWS (Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems).
This LAWS involve many critical issues and questions such as who should take legal responsibility when LAWS’s algorithm and system is wrongly programed, what United States Department of Defense decided as a policy was that it should be human being who make final decision on the execution of attack leading possible killing.

Confrontation how to regulate AI
On the other　hand there was international conference in Geneva end August this year on how to regulate weapons with AI installed where fierce confrontation was seen between those nations who are advanced in the development of AI and are exporting large amount of military weapons such as USA and Russia and those nations in Africa and Latin America who are behind in the development of AI.
Those nations such as USA and Russia were against the possible international regulation on such weapons as LAWS while other nations were for the international regulation.
Japan took the cautious position by making the statement that Japan will not have any intention to develop LAWS, but, hasty set-up of regulations would hamper the enhancement of technological development in the private industry.

The military use of AI is considered to change the international military balance and to change ultimately international political balance same as argued in the nuclear weapons.
In this critical field China is also closing the gap with USA who are keeping overwhelming power position presently.
It is, therefore, required that Japan make positive discussion and argument widely and take national approach to the issue because the level of enhanced development of AI-related technology may decide how Japan can be situated and seen not only in the global economy but also in the overall global power balance.