AI & Future War – Are There Limits?

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By Kris Osborn – Warrior Maven

(Washington, D.C.) The prominent emergence of AI has in some ways underscored the uniquely dynamic and indispensable qualities of human cognition, if even in a paradoxical way. While AI can process information and perform an increasing range of functions by analyzing and organizing data, Army technology developers consistently emphasize that humans need to remain the ultimate decision-makers when it comes to command and control. Therefore, current Army developers explain that AI can assist, or inform human decision makers by analyzing data, presenting options quickly and performing otherwise overly complex, time consuming or impossible tasks…in seconds. AI, the Army thinking goes, will “assist,” but not replace, human cognition and its many decision-making faculties.

The progress of AI is, significantly, characterized by a paradox or what might be called a contradiction of sorts. As far as it is going .. and the lightning speed at which it is getting there… there are still many unknowns when it comes to replicating human brain functions. Senior scientists at the Army Research Laboratory say that, broadly speaking the functional structure of many AI systems are based somewhat on the vision of mammals; there are biological processes and a certain natural apparatus for receiving and organizing information which computer systems are being engineered to replicate. While this seems both vast and amazing, ARL scientists explain that mammalian vision systems are just one part of the vast and still largely mysterious or unknown functions of the human brain. What about the portions of human cognition that imagine? Certain kinds of creativity? Or the many neurological dimensions to human feeling? Perhaps these questions are part of why the Commander of Army Futures Command, Gen. John Murray, and other service technology leaders emphasize that “humans” must ultimately be making important decisions and in control of “command and control” systems.

After all, despite the promise and magic of AI… aren’t there limits to what mathematically-driven computer systems can capture? What about more subjective phenomena such as feelings, imagination, moral sensibilities or other less quantifiable variables associated with human perception? Interestingly, advanced developers are looking at using AI to assess some more subjective nuances — such as looking at speech patterns, behavior history and the impact of external stimuli to determine human intention. However, despite this progress, it does not seem like many elements of the complex tapestry of human psychology lend themselves to any type of reliable mathematically-oriented computer analysis… at least not today. For instance, Machine Learning algorithms might help discern the meaning of “ball” as in dance from the use of “ball” as in football game, by analyzing surrounding words to determine context. At the same time, could machine algorithms determine the subjective or emotional reasons “why” a person might like a dance ball more than a football game? Perhaps analysis of past behavior might be an indication, or previous speech — however can a computer system calculate many of the fast-moving, variable and less-tangible elements of human decision making… such as the implications of inclinations or feelings? Those may remain challenges areas for the moment, leading scientists explain.

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