U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a retired general, met with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss AI weapons. This graphic shows the U.S. Department of Defense’s stated priorities regarding AI. (Source: DOD)

India, U.S. Disagree on Russian Invasion, Seek Space & Defense Alliance

The war in Ukraine has forced many nations to begin to choose sides. Who finds Russia the war’s aggressor nation and who finds Ukraine to be the victim? Most of us in the West believe Russia is in the wrong. However, the problems being created elsewhere in the world make other countries seek a faster solution.

For instance, the U.S. split with India over its continued use of Russian products, especially Russian gas and oil. After Russia spent decades developing positive relationships with countries such as India and Germany, they became dependent on Russian oil. Now that Russia has invaded Ukraine, many of these nations must decide whether to endure economic penalties over the loss of their oil supply.

Despite that disagreement, an article on c4isrnet.com reported some positive news about the U.S. and India regarding AI. While India has produced many of the great minds that run AI corporations, the two countries are just beginning talks about AI use in defense, “an outgrowth of the nations’ deepening relationship at a time of sharpened Indo-Pacific focus.”

News of the inaugural Defense Artificial Intelligence Dialogue came after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with their Indian counterparts, Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, on April 11.

“The United States and India signed a Space Situational Awareness arrangement, which lays the groundwork for more advanced cooperation in space,” the Pentagon said in a statement. “They also agreed to launch an inaugural Defense Artificial Intelligence Dialogue, while expanding joint cyber training and exercises.”

The Defense Department has for years recognized artificial intelligence as a crucial technology, one that can accelerate decision making, enhance data consumption, and, more broadly, offer a leg up on the battlefield. As of April 2021, the department was juggling at least 685 artificial intelligence projects, including more than a dozen major weapons systems.

read more at c4isrnet.com