The US military has confirmed its deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Middle East to aid its combat operations.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief technology officer Schuyler Moore said American forces are using computer vision algorithms to accurately identify targets for air strikes.
These algorithms were used recently to help US warplanes execute more than 85 air strikes against militia facilities in Iraq and Syria.
They were also deployed to detect rocket launchers in Yemen and surface vessels in the Red Sea.
“We’ve been using computer vision to identify where there might be threats,” Moore told Bloomberg.
A Significant Leap
The use of AI in combat operations underscores its increasing role in the future of warfare.
It represents a significant leap in military tactics, with its ability to pinpoint threats with unprecedented accuracy.
Despite its promising capabilities, Moore said there is still a crucial need for human oversight in AI-driven operations.
“There is never an algorithm that’s just running, coming to a conclusion, and then pushing onto the next step,” he said, emphasizing the strict measures that need to be taken to mitigate the risk of error.
Besides the US, Israel was the last country to publicly announce its AI utilization in combat operations. It reportedly used machine learning algorithms to decide where to drop bombs in Gaza.
Retaliatory Operations
The US military clarified that its increased operations in the Middle East were in retaliation for a drone attack on US troops in Jordan that killed three American military personnel.
The attack, which injured several others, was blamed on Iran-backed militants who oppose Washington’s support for Israel.
Prior to the fatal incident, US troops in the Middle East were attacked at least 55 times, causing minor injuries to dozens of American soldiers.
