How AI can provide an edge in Military Cognitive Supremacy - Brite Innovation Review | Issue 33

Cognition generally revolves around knowledge acquisition and understanding via experience, thought, and the senses.

Achieving cognitive supremacy is attractive in all facets of life and commerce, from academics to business and even athletic competition. The better any person or systemic entity is at acquiring knowledge, the more edge they have within their given sphere.

The connections between cognition and military activity are seamless to make. Garnering an edge in knowledge acquisition will provide countries with a level of national security that helps all citizens rest easy.

A critical barrier in front of all forms of knowledge management applications is time (or lack thereof).

In today’s landscape, when time is a barrier, we confront it with innovative tools. Artificial intelligence–AI–comes to mind. After all, AI saves employees 1.75 hours per day. Multiply that number by the 260 days most people work per year, and that’s a total of 455 saved hours annually.

People are then free to leverage that extra time into a competitive advantage–precisely what militaries can do when gaining a cognitive edge over potential threats.

Of course, the related advantages of such tools go far beyond time saved. AI offers a wide range of benefits to militaries seeking cognitive supremacy.

The better any person or systemic entity is at acquiring knowledge, the more edge they have within their given sphere.

Examining the role of Cognitive Supremacy in militaries

A cognitive edge in military activity refers to the ability to outthink “the enemy” in the timeliest fashion. This notion applies to soldiers and entire systems and can be used in all military-related facets.

When members of an army thrive in the cognitive aspects of combat, their mental skills help them make the correct decisions in the heat of the moment.

Every advantage matters when it comes to cognition. Training soldiers and leadership in this area will have a role in enhancing knowledge acquisition and situational awareness. As much as technology can help with these elements, the people involved must be capable–they must translate their cognitive supremacy into tangible results.

Still, even the keenest human minds have their limits. Even the most battle-tested military performers will struggle to give armies a competitive edge when rivals have superior tools and innovations on their side.

AI will combine manually obtained cognition with streamlined mental acuity and awareness to generate previously unconceived cognitive supremacy for militaries.

Should machines be making decisions that impact life-and-death scenarios on the battlefield?

AI is driving a new era of Cognitive Warfare

Cognitive warfare takes military cognition to a whole new frontier. This paradigm shift in military operations implements strategic AI and machine learning usage to influence the cognitive approaches of enemies.

Primarily, those utilising this AI-driven warfare aim to foster confusion and influence an adversary’s decision-making, thereby obtaining a strategic edge.

This innovative broad-scale tactic is gaining steam as a go-to tool in the modern warfare landscape. AI is implemented to bolster the capability of human soldiers and military leaders.

One captivating example of this innovative warfare is Anduril’s Ghost 4 drone.

Anduril, a defence-tech Startup, equipped its drone with AI to execute numerous reconnaissance missions. All that’s required is one on-ground operator to incorporate machine learning to identify targets and analyse imagery.

Cognitive warfare takes military cognition to a whole new frontier.

Crucial questions to ask about AI-driven Cognitive Supremacy

Any militaristic mind with a thirst for innovation is bound to be excited by the prospect of tools like the Ghost 4.

While this enormous technological leap is undoubtedly a net positive, there is a reason for scepticism and concern. Let’s examine those reasons:

Can humans properly predict the actions of Autonomous Systems?

AI warfare–namely, autonomous systems–brings a level of unpredictability and complexity to the table since they can make decisions (potentially critical ones).

Say there’s a system malfunction, or an adversary hacks into one of these tools. The results could be catastrophic.

Is AI Cognition in militaries an ethical landmine?

There’s also a matter of ethics. Should machines be making decisions that impact life-and-death scenarios on the battlefield? It’s a massively controversial issue to broach.

On the one hand, AI should reduce human casualties with the advantages it provides to military cognition. For instance, it can handle dangerous tasks instead of putting humans in those precarious positions.

However, the matter of human subjectivity, judgement, and accountability will need to be addressed.

Can AI Cognition escalate conflicts between rival nations?

Another area of concern is the potential for AI’s presence in cognitive warfare to cause conflict escalation. By manipulating the decision-making processes of adversaries, misunderstandings and miscalculations could very easily follow. This can cause seismic problems on a global scale.

Thus, adopting AI cognition in militaries must be accompanied by strict regulations and rules to govern usage. This will help offset the related risks.

The UK military intends to enable operational and strategic advantages by adopting and exploiting AI.

Why are cognitive advantages more crucial than ever in the military?

Militaries will and should search for every advantage. Really, it’s common sense and is a theme throughout all of history. If you gave Napolean AI cognition capabilities, he’d jump at the opportunity to harness its powers (once you convince him it wasn’t a form of witchcraft).

That said, today’s battlefields differ significantly from those of even a decade ago. Specifically, the advent of digital, transparent warfare demands AI cognition.

Look no further than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for an example. Satellites, user-generated content on social media, and digital traces helped ensure Russia’s army, air force, or navy couldn’t simply sneak up on their enemies.

Furthermore, there’s no concealing the actions of military forces. Death and destruction will be at the forefront. There can be no moral shortcuts. Consequences will soon follow because everyone is watching, including other powerful militaries with a keen sense of justice.

Thus, armies need the highest-grade, most innovative tools–like AI cognition–to help adapt their strategies and manoeuvrings

Pandora’s Box has been opened with AI Cognition In militaries. Expect more vountries to keep adopting it

AI cognition is no longer a secret for global militaries. Expect these innovations to gain unstoppable steam on the world stage. For instance, one article published last year highlighted the UK’s commitment to an AI defence strategy.

Specifically, the UK military intends to enable operational and strategic advantages by adopting and exploiting AI. It plans to do so through international cooperation with allies and partners, decision-making, and cross-domain integration.

As the article has clarified, this could mean big things for cognitive supremacy in the UK military. However, like with all things AI, there remains the need for cautiousness to balance out the optimism.

01/22/2024 14:27:25