The global artificial intelligence race is increasingly becoming a contest for technological and military power, with China warning that it will challenge any attempt by a single country to dominate the emerging technology.Victor Gao, vice-president of the Centre for China and Globalisation, made the remarks at the Penang Peace Dialogue in Malaysia, accusing the United States of pushing artificial intelligence towards military applications and warning against what he called “AI for evil”.Gao said Washington was “weaponising and militarising AI” and integrating the technology into systems ranging from drones and ballistic missiles to everyday software and hardware, according to the South China Morning Post.“China will never allow any country in this world to achieve AI dominance,” Gao said, adding that Beijing remained committed to strengthening its own position in artificial intelligence.He argued that China's focus on open-source AI could help challenge what he described as an effort towards US-led dominance of the technology.Gao also linked the AI competition to China's control over rare earths, suggesting that Beijing's position in critical mineral supply chains could constrain Washington's ability to translate advances in AI into military capabilities.AI race moves towards warfareArtificial intelligence is rapidly finding applications across the military, where it can process vast amounts of battlefield data, identify potential threats, assist commanders and accelerate decision-making.AI systems can analyse information gathered from satellites, drones, sensors and other intelligence platforms far faster than humans, allowing militaries to develop a near real-time picture of battlefield conditions.The technology is also being incorporated into autonomous and unmanned systems, enabling drones and robotic platforms to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance with reduced human intervention.The US military is developing AI applications for battle management, decision support and intelligence analysis, while seeking to accelerate what military planners describe as the “kill chain”, the process from identifying a target to engaging it.AI-powered simulations can also help militaries test strategies, model potential conflicts and prepare forces for different battlefield scenarios.AI expands beyond the battlefieldThe military applications of AI extend beyond weapons and combat systems.The technology can be used to improve logistics and military readiness by predicting equipment failures, optimising supply chains and identifying maintenance requirements before they affect operations.AI can also support cybersecurity and information operations by detecting unusual digital activity and processing vast quantities of data.Taken together, these capabilities can allow militaries to process information faster, shorten response times and coordinate forces across land, sea, air, space and cyberspace.The growing military applications of AI are therefore adding a new dimension to the broader US-China technology rivalry, with both countries seeking to secure advantages in a technology that could increasingly shape future warfare.
