The Pentagon Requests 1,000 AI-Navigated Mini Phantom Jets: Who Said Ghosts Can’t Fly?
“Pentagon wants 1,000 AI-piloted mini ghost fighter jets”
“The Pentagon wants hundreds of mini fighter jets piloted by artificial intelligence, not human pilots.” It seems like the United States Department of Defense has finally realized that it is, in fact, the future and is embracing the fact with a rather ambitious request.
In the popular landscape (with Terminator, I, Robot and other sci-fi movies as our only reference point) humanoid robots trying to take over the world have become a cliché. But here we are, speaking about a real-life scenario where the Pentagon not just wants, but wants hundreds of tiny robotic jets doing their bidding. Interesting, isn’t it?
Well, the Pentagon believes that AI, the current star of the tech universe, can do far more than being just good at chess or beating humans at checkers. The idea is to put these AI powerhouse machines into tiny killer jets that can fire missiles, execute tactical decisions in split seconds much faster than their human counterparts could ever hope to.
Reportedly, these AI-controlled mini ghost fighter jets are seen as a solution for providing close air support to troops on the ground in urban combat environments. Apparently, it’s more practical and safer to send AI into potential danger zones than humans. Who would have thought?
Nonetheless, it isn’t the thought of AI pilots maneuvering through enemy lines that generates controversy surrounding these plans. Nope. The real kick to the shins here is the government’s aspiration for AI-powered weapons systems, functioning autonomously without human intervention. The mere sound of it makes one shudder at the possible implications.
Considering the rapid advancements in AI and machine learning algorithms, it’s likely that this transition from human to AI pilots could become more than just Pentagon’s ‘pipe dream’, however much that may sound like a questionable plotline for a bad B-grade sci-fi movie.
In a nutshell, if successful, these AI-piloted mini ghost fighter jets could redefine combat aviation, quite literally taking the ‘human’ out of ‘human warfare’. An intriguing thought, but one that also begs the question – is this the advent of an era where we absentmindedly step into the uncharted territory of complete automation in warfare? Apparently, only time will tell.