China has reportedly created an AI commander capable of operating in war-like scenarios without human intervention. This AI, referred to as a “virtual commander,” is undergoing extensive training in Chinese laboratories, where it participates in virtual wars to gain battleground experience. Designed to replicate human behavior and even their flaws, the AI is currently confined to laboratory settings.
Why China Needs AI Commanders
China is not likely to deploy these AI commanders in real war scenarios anytime soon. Instead, their role will be limited to war simulations. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) faces a shortage of experienced senior commanders during war practices, which is where AI commanders prove useful. They can step in during large-scale war simulations and exercises when human commanders are unavailable.
How AI Commanders Operate
Unlike typical AI that relies on analytical methods, this AI commander uses empirical knowledge, much like humans. It has limited memory, allowing it to erase old, irrelevant data as it gains new experiences. The project, led by senior engineer Jia Chenxing, was first revealed in May in the Chinese-language journal *Common Control & Simulation*.
Capabilities of the AI Commander
The AI can be fine-tuned for specific personality traits if necessary. Under pressure, humans often struggle to make fully rational decisions within stringent timelines. In contrast, the AI identifies new threats, formulates plans, and makes optimal decisions based on the overall situation, learning and adapting from both victories and defeats. These processes occur without any human intervention, offering advantages such as ease of implementation, high efficiency, and support for repeated experimentation.
Political Control
Despite the advanced capabilities of this AI, it adheres to the PLA’s principle: “The Party commands the gun.” Control of the AI will remain with humans affiliated with the Communist Party of China, ensuring that the technology aligns with the party’s directives.
