"U.S. Department of Defense Begins Developing AI Weapons to Penetrate Chinese Networks"

Rising Tensions Between the Pentagon and AI Companies Over Military Applications

The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) is reportedly pushing forward with the development of artificial intelligence (AI)-based cyber tools capable of identifying critical infrastructure within China, as part of preparations for a possible military conflict with the country. The core of this project is to utilize AI to penetrate the adversary’s computer networks, identify vulnerabilities, and integrate these findings into U.S. military war plans.

Yonhap News Agency, citing the UK’s Financial Times (FT) on February 27, reported that the U.S. Department of Defense is in discussions with major AI companies about building systems for automated reconnaissance targeting the computer networks of China’s critical infrastructure.

Cyberwarfare between the United States and China. Reuters Yonhap News

Multiple sources told the outlet that the plan to use AI to identify China’s vulnerabilities and reflect them in war planning would significantly enhance the U.S. military’s ability to penetrate enemy systems in the event of a conflict.

The Department of Defense has reportedly requested that major AI companies allow the military to use AI tools “for all lawful purposes,” including in sensitive areas such as weapons development, intelligence gathering, and battlefield operations.

It has not yet been decided which companies will participate in this AI cyber initiative targeting China, nor to what extent. Previously, AI firms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and xAI signed contracts with the U.S. government worth a total of 200 million dollars (approximately 290 billion won) for cooperation in military, cyber, and security fields.

It is reported that OpenAI, Google, and xAI have accepted this arrangement, while Anthropic maintains its stance that its AI model “Claude” can never be used for large-scale surveillance of Americans or for fully autonomous lethal weapons systems.

The U.S. Department of Defense has warned that if negotiations with Anthropic ultimately break down, it will take compulsory measures to exclude Claude from all Department of Defense work.

The Financial Times noted, “This move reflects Washington’s recognition that the importance of cyber operations is increasing in a potential conflict with China, and that AI could shift the balance of power.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.