Sam Bresnick
China’s leadership believes that artificial intelligence will play a central role in future wars. However, the author’s comprehensive review of dozens of Chinese-language journal articles about AI and warfare reveals that Chinese defense experts claim that Beijing is facing several technological challenges that may hinder its ability to capitalize on the advantages provided by military AI. This report outlines these perceived barriers and identifies several technologies that Chinese experts believe may help the country develop and deploy military AI-enabled systems.
China has made significant investments, and apparent progress, in military AI over the past several years. Given AI and related emerging technologies could play critical roles in future wars, the U.S. national security establishment is worried about falling behind China in developing and deploying these technologies.1 Such concerns have elicited much attention and alarm in the United States.
It is difficult, however, to develop a comprehensive understanding of where each military stands when it comes to military AI development and adoption, let alone conduct a direct comparison between the two. Moreover, often missing from existing assessments of Chinese military AI are Chinese perspectives on their own progress, or lack thereof, in developing and fielding AI-related technologies and capabilities. This report seeks to fill that analytical gap.
This paper outlines several of the key challenges Chinese defense experts argue China is facing regarding the development and deployment of AI and related emerging technologies. It draws on 59 Chinese-language journal articles published between 2020 and 2022 by People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officers or researchers, engineers in the Chinese defense industry, and academics working on AI and other emerging technologies.
June 2024
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The Center for Security and Emerging Technology within Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service provides decision-makers with data-driven analysis on the security implications of emerging technologies.
cset@georgetown.edu
christa.bennett@georgetown.edu
