Pentagon's pledge on rules-based AI usage a notable development

THE Pentagon's announcement this week about the adoption of ethical principles in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by the US military marks a watershed moment in the move to bring in a rules-based governance system on the use of this powerful tool.

The principles were recommended by the US Defence Innovation Board, a group of private sector technology executives chaired by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

AI combined with machine learning and big data analytics is possibly the most disruptive technology breakthrough of our time. Used properly it can provide unprecedented advantages. As an example, in its fight to control the Covid-19 virus, China is using AI programs to trawl through street CCTV footage and calculating the body temperatures of pedestrians. This is combined with AI-driven facial recognition technology to identify anyone who is flagged to have fever - and the system works even when the person is wearing a mask. Elsewhere, AI programs are being used to map the spread of the virus and for medical research in a bid to find a cure.