Artificial intelligence has a growing influence on how wars of the modern era are waged.
Washington has claimed that in recent US military actions linked to conflict with Iran it hit more than 2000 targets within just four days.
It would have taken a lot of effort to maintain this pace in previous conflicts when the military intelligence was reviewed manually at multiple levels.
The software used today to process intelligence can now handle vast amounts of data in just minutes.
Algorithms analyse data from satellites and drones to highlight targets for the commanders and organize information.
These tools help the US military to move faster through the “kill chain” on the battlefield than they did in past wars.
The military kill chain: What it means
The sequence from the identification of a target until the launch of an attack is called a “kill chain”.
Earlier military operations could last for hours, or even days.
Before an attack could be authorized, intelligence had to first be collected, then verified, analysed and finally passed on through multiple levels of command.
Artificial intelligence is designed to reduce the timeline.
The software can quickly scan the intelligence feeds and flag possible targets. It then prioritizes them to be reviewed by commanders.
The faster the decision-making cycle, the better. This is particularly important when there are conflicts in which targets like missile launchers and mobile equipment may disappear quickly.
AI Battlefield Targeting: The Software Behind It
Maven Smart System is a key component of this change, which was developed in collaboration with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies.
This platform is based on Project Maven. It was a Pentagon initiative that launched in 2017, aimed at applying machine learning for military intelligence analysis.
This system combines data collected from satellites, drones and other sources of surveillance into one operational dashboard.
Intelligence reports, possible targets and operational options can be viewed by analysts and commanders in a single place.
In a recent report on the Iran Conflict, it was described that AI-driven platforms can help to process huge volumes of battlefield data in order to generate a list of potential targets which requires human assessment.
Expanding the use of AI in military
US Department of Defense is steadily expanding the use of AI across all its forces.
Maven will have more than 20 000 users in multiple military units by the year 2025. Allies of NATO are also adopting the technology.
Artificial intelligence is now playing a variety of roles in military operations.
The computer vision system can identify drone footage and equipment. Satellite imagery is scanned by algorithms for patterns which may indicate military activity.
Drone surveillance and digital analysis of intelligence are at the heart of modern warfare.
AI Warfare: Why it raises concern
The growing use of AI for warfare raises concerns over oversight and accountability.
The question is whether automated systems that are faster allow for enough time to make careful decisions by humans.
Commanders can be under pressure to take action quickly if software produces a large number of targets rapidly.
The recent events in Iran has intensified concerns.
The investigation into the strike on a school for girls in Minab has raised concerns about the targeting of the attack and the use of outdated intelligence.
Reuters reported in an investigation that the school has a public presence online for a very long time. This raised questions as to how it was classified as a target.
According to experts, the greater challenge lies in accountability.
AI systems are capable of analyzing large datasets quickly and producing recommendations, but it can be hard to understand how they generate these recommendations.
The debate will likely remain central as warfare is increasingly data-driven.
This article Is AI speeding war up? As new information unfolds, the exact method of how US hit 2,000 Iran targets within 4 days could change.
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