Joint Force Quarterly
Abstract
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into its military modernization strategy, or "intelligentization," aiming to develop a world-class military capable of designing future warfare. This article reviews over 370 PLA Daily articles to assess how the PLA envisions AI transforming key areas of warfare, including situational awareness, decisionmaking, unmanned weapons, and cognitive domain operations. While the PLA anticipates significant advantages, it also acknowledges the risks of system malfunctions, biased data, ethical dilemmas, and adversarial manipulation. Despite these limitations, the PLA remains committed to leveraging AI to create new forms of warfare, emphasizing the importance of proactive design over reactive strategies. The article highlights the implications of the PLA’s ambitions for global security, urging the U.S. and its allies to monitor China’s developments and develop complementary military strategies.
Recommended Citation
Koichiro Takagi, "Is the PLA Overestimating the Potential of Artificial Intelligence?," Joint Force Quarterly 116 (1st Quarter 2025), 71-78, https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/joint-force-quarterly/vol116/iss4/10.
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