Anduril’s Founder on Autonomous Weapons, Russia’s Morse Code, and Humility in Front of Technology
In this week’s big story, Anduril’s founder Palmer Luckey speaks with Bloomberg on autonomous weapons and war - and on how it is unavoidable that AI will make deadly mistakes.
Contrasting AI, Morse code, a century-old technology, is used by Russia alongside drones and hypersonic weapons. Why?
But first, at the AI Expo for Competitiveness, CIA Deputy Director David Cohen spoke on technology, the battlefield, and the protection of humans, warning that no amount of technology can fully protect humans:
The Big Story
Palmer Luckey on US Deference Modernisation and Unavoidable Failures of AI Weapons
This week, the Circuit released an interview with Anduril’s founder Palmer Luckey. Bloomberg reporter Emily Chang visited Luckey in Costa Mesa, California, joining him at his office, at home, and on his vintage warship.
Anduril is a part of the changing landscape of US defence. The company recently beat several legacy defence players in a contest for a major contract to develop an unmanned fighter jet for the U.S. Air Force. Anduril is currently valued at $8.5 billion.
Palmer Luckey and Bloomberg’s Emily Chang onboard Luckey’s vintage warship. Source: Bloomberg Originals
According to Luckey, US defence is not modernising fast enough and is not adjusted to how conflicts play out today. US defence has been relying on legacy contractors and has a slow process to move contracts forward, leading many tech startups to end up in what is called “The Valley of Death”, running out of funding, before securing a contract. SpaceX and Palantir have even sued the government for ineffective procurement and won.
“The US has investments in legacy technologies that don’t make China ‘quaking in their boots’,” Luckey says, pointing out that technological superiority is the key to national defence. In some areas such as battleship production, China is far more advanced and Luckey believes that the US has to compete in other technologies:
“Everything that Anduril is working on right now is oriented towards that fight,” he says.
Luckey is certain that if artificial intelligence becomes a core part of the way that we fight wars, there will be people who are killed by AI who should not have been killed:
“The existence of an algorithm cannot replace the responsibility of a human to deploy that system,” he says.
While Luckey acknowledges the potential dangers of AI, he argues that it can solve existing problems that are arguably more deadly to innocent people:
“I don’t want AI to do these things, but a lot of times the existing technologies are much worse,” he says.
Watch the full interview on Bloomberg Originals.
Morse Code Alongside Drones and Hypersonic Missiles
In the war in Ukraine, often referred to as the first drone war, Russia is using the century-old technology of Morse code alongside drone swarms and hypersonic missiles.
Morse code messages are being sent from Russian bombers to their control centres, or from ships to their shore-based headquarters.
What makes Morse code interesting, is that it is a sound that forms a rhythm - sharing common characteristics with music. By stimulating the innate human sense of rhythm, Morse code activates our sense of pattern recognition. Since this skill is deeply embedded in our brains, we can decipher messages even if they are incomplete. An experienced Morse code operator can fill in the blanks caused by interference, poor reception, noise or equipment malfunction.
The technology is also incredibly simple - anyone with basic technological skills can build a transmitter using standard components. It is also effective: Morse only needs a minimum of power to travel significant distances.
Read the full story on The Conversation.
International Morse code. Source: Wikipedia
In the News
Booz Allen IDs Top 10 Emerging Technologies for DOD and National Security
Booz Allen Hamilton has identified the top 10 emerging technologies that will significantly impact the Department of Defense (DOD) and national security. These technologies include AI accelerator chips, multimodal AI, and generative AI software development, which are expected to enhance mission outcomes. The report emphasizes the importance of dual-use technologies and strategic investments to maintain technological superiority in defense and intelligence sectors.
Read more at Yahoo Finance.
South Korean Military Says North Korea Test-Fired ‘Ballistic Missiles’
The South Korean military reported that North Korea test-fired multiple ballistic missiles, escalating regional tensions. These missile tests are seen as a response to joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States. The situation underscores the ongoing security challenges in the Korean Peninsula and the importance of regional defense preparedness.
Read more at Al Jazeera.
Lockheed to Build $756-million Hypersonic Weapon Equipment for US Army
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $756 million contract to develop hypersonic weapon equipment for the U.S. Army. This project aims to enhance the Army's capabilities in deploying advanced hypersonic systems, which are crucial for maintaining a strategic edge in modern warfare. The development of hypersonic weapons is part of broader efforts to bolster the U.S. military's technological advancements.
Read more at Bloomberg.
US Says Russia Likely Launched Space Weapon
U.S. officials have accused Russia of likely launching a space weapon, raising concerns about the militarization of space. This development has intensified the geopolitical tensions between the two nations, highlighting the need for international regulations to prevent an arms race in space. The incident underscores the growing strategic importance of space in national security.
Read more at Reuters.
