Syllabus: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
AI as a Transformational Technology
- Artificial Intelligence is emerging as the most disruptive technology of the modern era.
- Its transformative potential rivals historic shifts like the Industrial Revolution.
- Rapid advances in Large Language Models (LLMs) signal accelerating technological breakthroughs.
- AI expansion marks the beginning of a deeper global technological transformation.
AI and Emerging Global Power Rivalry
- Technological competition between the United States and China is intensifying sharply.
- Success of recent Chinese AI models has catalysed global industry momentum.
- AI is becoming central to geopolitical competition and technological leadership.
- It adds a new dimension to economic and strategic rivalries.
AI within a Fragmenting Global Order
- Global order faces disruption through economic coercion and supply chain weaponisation.
- AI may become the greatest disruptor beyond trade and finance conflicts.
- Leaders have yet to fully grasp AI’s systemic global consequences.
- Technology could reshape the international order more profoundly than anticipated.
Expanding Strategic and Civil Applications
- AI enhances information flows, surveillance systems, and communication networks.
- It strengthens analytical capacities across governance and industry sectors.
- Digital transformation driven by AI reshapes competitiveness from fintech to healthcare.
- Diplomacy and statecraft increasingly integrate AI-driven tools.
Concerns in Governance and Justice Systems
- Judicial institutions caution against excessive reliance on AI tools.
- Risks include hallucinations, false citations, and fabricated legal references.
- Misuse may lead to flawed judgments and procedural errors.
Militarisation and Future Warfare
- AI is reshaping warfare from human-led to autonomous systems.
- Deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles enables autonomous combat operations.
- AI-powered cyber weapons and uncrewed ground vehicles are operational realities.
- Warfare is shifting toward multi-domain, technology-driven battle environments.
Lessons from Contemporary Conflicts
- Ukraine conflict illustrates AI-enabled asymmetric warfare capabilities.
- Low-cost drones and smart technologies counter conventional military power.
- AI represents a major tactical shift since mechanised warfare innovations.
Emerging Risks and Doomsday Scenarios
- Autonomous drone swarms could enable mass-casualty terror attacks.
- Power may shift from traditional militaries to AI-capable actors.
- Uncontrolled AI systems may surpass human decision-making authority.
Need for Global Oversight
- AI governance requires checks, balances, and international cooperation.
- Scientists and policymakers must jointly regulate runaway technologies.
- Goal is ensuring AI benefits humanity rather than threatening it.