AI, autonomous systems to play decisive role in future conflicts: CDS

NEW DELHI: Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has highlighted the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in modern warfare, stating that AI and autonomous systems are expected to play a decisive role in future conflicts. In his remarks during a panel discussion at the 11th Raisina Dialogue here on Saturday, Gen Chauhan also said AI is playing a major part in the ongoing conflicts as well.

During the session titled “The Tech Triad”, referring to nuclear power, AI and autonomous weaponry, the CDS said as the use of AI increases, there will be a huge requirement for energy, arguing that nuclear power and AI “complement each other” when it comes to powering data centres.





He said that earlier, military might was based on platforms, tanks, aircraft, ships, and submarines, but today, apart from those, one also needs data, network and intelligence. “Artificial intelligence is going to play a major role in warfare tomorrow, and so would autonomous systems,” he said.

According to CDS the expansion of warfare across these domains has made timely decision-making more critical than ever, adding that automated systems powered by AI can help militaries make faster and more effective decisions during combat situations. He emphasised that success in future warfare will depend not only on conventional platforms but also on the ability to integrate artificial intelligence, data and autonomous systems to support rapid decision-making on the battlefield.

“Unless you have automated systems, it becomes difficult to make decisions on time. In combat, if you want to win, there are only two things “timely decisions and right decisions” and AI and autonomous systems somewhat help us to do that," he said.

The CDS further said that contemporary combat has become increasingly complex, taking place across multiple domains, including the physical, synthetic and cognitive realms. He added that for running AI-based systems, a huge amount of power and energy is required, and “that is the future”. The CDS also underlined that India is taking "baby steps in AI, and we are yet to formulate how we want to use it".