Comparative Analysis of the U.S.-China Artificial Intelligence Architecture and Effects of Autonomous UAVs on the Future of the Battlefield.

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) took the lead in the global technological market in the last decade, touching on applications in all areas of industry, from familiar examples in smart home appliances and consumer electronics to national defense. The U.S. and China represent the two largest economies in the world. Both countries are engaging in the AI tech race to implement this technology in the global markets and on the battlefield. The U.S.-China AI tech race presents a security dilemma for the U.S. on two fronts: economic and national defense. If China successfully creates fully autonomous AI UAVs and disseminates them throughout the global market, it will have an economic and battlefield advantage. Fully autonomous AI UAVs in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) arsenal will provide a live picture of the battlespace, first-strike advantage, denial of waters and territory to the neighboring nations, control of the trade routes and contested islands, and negatively impact the U.S. global power projection in the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), Figure 1, Appendix 1. This thesis seeks to examine how AI represents key elements in the global economy and on the battlefield, what specific function it can play in INDOPACOM, and how the U.S. is competing to win this race vis-à-vis China.