In a historic event, the U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall took a ride in an AI-controlled fighter jet, marking a significant milestone in military aviation. The flight took place in an experimental orange and white F-16 fighter jet, known as the X-62A VISTA, at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
The AI-controlled F-16, capable of lightning-fast maneuvers at speeds exceeding 550 miles per hour, put pressure on Kendall’s body at five times the force of gravity. The aircraft went nearly nose to nose with a second human-piloted F-16, both racing within 1,000 feet of each other, twisting and looping to try to force their opponent into vulnerable positions.
The Air Force is planning to use the technology to operate an unmanned fleet of more than 1,000 warplanes by 2028. This move marks one of the biggest advances in military aviation since the introduction of stealth in the early 1990s.
However, the use of AI in warfare has raised concerns among arms control experts and humanitarian groups. They fear that AI might one day be able to autonomously drop bombs that kill people without further human consultation, and they are seeking greater restrictions on its use.
Despite these concerns, Kendall expressed his trust in the AI technology after the flight. He stated that he’d seen enough during his flight to trust this still-learning AI with the ability to decide whether or not to launch weapons.
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