China is rapidly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its military operations to transform how it communicates, jams, and fights. According
China is rapidly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its military operations to transform how it communicates, jams, and fights. According to local media reports, the nation is advancing an “AI Plus” strategy, aiming to implement cutting-edge technologies within its electronic warfare systems to effectively confuse enemy jammers. This report, published by the South China Morning Post earlier this month, highlights how AI could enable Chinese researchers to predict drone jamming techniques from distances of up to 5,000 kilometers, all without the use of satellites. This capability is particularly crucial during solar storms or electronic attacks, when traditional communication methods may falter. Furthermore, China is reportedly utilizing AI to simulate radio behavior in air and sea environments, which could facilitate instantaneous communication between drones and submarines.
Now, let’s break it down a bit further. China is not just dabbling in AI for military purposes; it’s positioning itself as a formidable competitor to the United States in this high-stakes race. Back in 2017, the country laid out a comprehensive development plan aimed at achieving “world-leading levels in artificial intelligence theory, technology, and applications by 2030.” Fast forward two years, and we see the government explicitly stating that “war is evolving towards informationized warfare, and intelligent warfare is on the horizon.” They’ve listed several technologies, including AI, as rapidly advancing in the international military competition. President Xi Jinping, in a speech from 2022, emphasized the need for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to master the nuances of informatized and intelligent warfare, building “unmanned, intelligent combat capabilities.”
What’s really fascinating is that the PLA refers to this entire initiative as “intelligentized warfare.” According to Frank O’Donnell, a senior research advisor with the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network, this term signifies a systemic effort to meld AI, robotics, and unmanned systems into military platforms and decision-making processes. “Xi Jinping himself believes that AI is the key to global power status in the 21st century,” O’Donnell shared with Euronews Next.
Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Articles in the PLA Daily, the military’s internal newsletter, outline China’s ambition to establish a human-AI model where military commanders set strategic intent, which AI systems would then execute. Under this model, AI would effectively serve as digital staff officers, assigning tasks and coordinating actions in real time. However, O’Donnell cautions that the end goal for China is likely not fully autonomous weapons, as the government has consistently stressed the importance of human oversight.
But here’s the kicker: there’s a real lack of reliable public information regarding how far along China is in this AI integration. We do know they’ve showcased some autonomous drones capable of coordinating attacks and overwhelming the sensors of enemy military forces. We saw these advanced drones on display during last year’s Victory Parade, an annual event where the nation showcases its military might. Sam Bresnick, a research fellow at Georgetown University, noted that while state broadcasters claimed these drones are AI-enabled, the specifics of their capabilities remain murky. “Are they autonomously picking targets? Or are they just navigating to specific locations?” he questioned.
And let’s not forget about China’s robust manufacturing base—this allows them to churn out hundreds of drones with relative ease. O’Donnell emphasized that these drone swarms are not only impressive but come with a lower risk of failure. The PLA is also broadening its AI efforts into naval operations. In fact, they demonstrated an AI-assisted decision-making system in 2025 that enhanced the stealth capabilities of a guided missile frigate, a vessel designed to protect other ships.
Then we have these so-called “robot dogs,” which are reportedly capable of moving without human input. However, Bresnick raised doubts about the practicality of that technology, remarking, “I don’t put much faith in those videos since they’re shot in controlled environments.” We simply don’t know if those robots are being controlled by off-screen operators.
It’s likely that the PLA is exploring even more AI technologies that remain under wraps. O’Donnell elaborated that these efforts include enhancing decision-making, sensory capabilities, and communication systems—all with the aim of ensuring that the military can act swiftly and efficiently to confuse and overwhelm opponents. But let’s be real; it’s tough to gauge just how advanced China really is in this arena.
Interestingly, procurement notices from the PLA indicate they’re eyeing large language models (LLMs) to automate various backend operations and decision-support tasks. There’s also speculation that they might integrate public models like DeepSeek into their operations. Just like the United States, China anticipates that any future conflict could unfold at lightning speed, with the nation that has best harnessed AI holding the upper hand. This urgency is why China is racing to integrate AI across all military branches.
However, it’s crucial to note that any AI-assisted weapons developed by China haven’t been put to the test in real-world conflicts, relying instead on combat simulations, making them less realistic compared to their U.S. counterparts. “The Chinese military hasn’t fought a war since 1979,” Bresnick pointed out. “By global military standards, they’re quite inexperienced.”
The PLA is also looking into leveraging AI-assisted augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies for training purposes. Yet, there’s a significant shortfall in AI infrastructure, particularly when it comes to semiconductor chips and computing systems essential for building AI-enabled weapons. Recently, Chinese tech giants like Huawei, Alibaba, Baidu, and Xiaomi have announced plans to develop AI models using domestically produced chips. Still, O’Donnell asserts that there’s a technical gap compared to the U.S., especially with industry leaders like Nvidia setting the bar high.
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Kaynak: Orijinal Haber
