China's People's Liberation Army Weaponizing Meta's AI


(MENAFN- Asia Times) China's military may have found a new weapon: a repurposed version of Meta's open-source AI, Llama, retooled for battlefield intelligence.

Last month, Reuters reported that according to three academic papers, top Chinese research institutions linked to the People's Liberation army (PLA) have adapted Meta's Llama AI model for military applications.

Reuters reports that in June, six researchers from three institutions, including two under the PLA's Academy of Military Science, detailed their use of an early version of Meta's Llama to create“ChatBIT,” an AI tool optimized for military intelligence and decision-making.

The report points out that despite Meta's restrictions against military use, Llama's open-source nature allowed for unauthorized adaptation. Meta condemned this use, emphasizing the need for open innovation while acknowledging the challenges of enforcing usage policies.

Reuters says the US Department of Defense (DOD) monitors these developments amid broader US concerns about AI's security risks. It notes this incident highlights China's ongoing efforts to leverage AI for military and domestic security despite international restrictions and ethical considerations.

The report says that the research highlights the challenge of preventing the unauthorized use of open-source AI models, reflecting the broader geopolitical competition in AI technology.

As to how large language models (LLM) can revolutionize military intelligence, the US Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) first chief technology officer, Nand Mulchandani, said in a May 2024 interview with the Associated Press (AP) that generative AI systems can spark out-of-the-box thinking but is not precise and can be biased.

Mulchandani mentions that the CIA uses a generative AI application called Osiris to summarize and provide insights into global trends, helping analysts manage vast amounts of information.

However, he points out that despite AI's capabilities, human judgment remains crucial in intelligence work, with AI serving as a co-pilot to boost productivity and insight.

He says that the CIA faces challenges integrating AI due to information compartmentalization and legal constraints but is committed to scaling AI technologies.

MENAFN02112024000159011032ID1108843441


Asia Times

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.