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The Air Force said it sought input from the former software chief after he resigned and warned the public that China was winning the AI race.
Nicolas Chaillan resigned as the Air Force’s first chief of software last month and issued a letter of resignation lamenting the government’s “delays”, then raising the alarm that China had won the AI and cyber rivalry with the US.
While criticism of Mr. Chaillan was in the news that portrayed him as a frustrated former employee waging a one-man war, the government continued to take his advice privately.
Rather than dismiss Mr. Chaillan’s concerns, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall invited him in to discuss his concerns.
“At this meeting, Secretary Kendall thanked Mr Chaillan for his contributions to the Air Force Department, the two discussed Mr Chaillan’s recommendations for the Department’s future software development, and Secretary Kendall wished Mr Chaillan well in his future endeavors.” Air Force spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Justin Brockhoff said in an email. “Secretary Kendall and Mr. Chaillan left open the potential to participate in future discussions.”
The use of artificial intelligence includes machines designed to think and act like humans to perform a variety of tasks. China and America are vying for dominance in AI that has spread across the commercial sector and can be used in national security for planning, detection and physical action against an enemy.
Mr. Chaillan told the Washington Times that he agreed to work as an unpaid counselor after receiving benefits from Mr. Kendall.
“The simple fact that most people don’t care and won’t continue, reaching out right after my exit was announced, that means to me, tells me you really want to do something,” said Mr. Chaillan. . “Because if he was just pretending and talking the talk, he wouldn’t have held out his hand.”
Time will tell whether the federal government will make changes in response to Mr. Chaillan’s warnings. Mr. Chaillan said he was willing to attend hearings with Congress before, but wanted some of it to remain private so the public could hear his point of view.
Others outside the government think the question of who will win the AI competition remains completely open. Harvard computer science professor Jim Waldo said he was less pessimistic than Mr. Chaillan about America’s chances in the AI war with China.
Mr. Waldo pointed out that most US investments in technological innovation take place in the private sector rather than government-funded university research.
“The idea that this research will be led by the military is a bit ridiculous,” he said in an email. “But the use of technology should be increased by defense services, and funding from government should be increased to encourage open development. We haven’t lost yet, but we may lose if we don’t invest in the future.”
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