Flawed AI-linked intelligence report almost led to US military boarding Chinese ship in Middle East – report

Earlier this year, the US military came dangerously close to boarding a Chinese vessel in the Middle East due to a faulty intelligence report, according to CNN. The report, prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence, had incorrectly suggested that the ship was transporting components related to nuclear weapons, prompting American forces to prepare for an interception.

However, the operation was aborted after officials realized that an AI chatbot employed by an analyst had erroneously identified the cargo. The broadcaster quoted a source as stating that the intelligence report was "entirely false," but acknowledged that this close call "almost started a war." CNN did not disclose the actual contents of the ship or its intended destination.

US Central Command, which oversees American forces in the region, has not yet commented on the incident. This story comes in the wake of a significant controversy surrounding Anthropic, a prominent AI firm, where one researcher resigned over concerns that the technology could surpass human control, and another employee expressed fears that AI could lead to the extinction of humanity within the next decade.

Despite these warnings, some high-ranking US officials, including former President Donald Trump, have resisted calls to severely restrict AI development. Meanwhile, in a separate case involving the US military and China, Politico reported that F-35 jet components, including a crucial stealth canopy for a cockpit, were diverted to Hong Kong and subsequently went missing.

These parts were en route from Australia to the United States for repairs when the diversion occurred. The reason behind the rerouting and the current whereabouts of the components remain unclear. A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin, the company responsible for the F-35 supply chain, declined to comment on specific shipments due to security concerns, but affirmed that the company adheres to all US regulations set by the Department of Defense and enforced by the Defense Logistics Agency regarding such shipments.