The army also plans to use AI technology that can predict, for instance, when a tank would require its next servicing, its remaining life and potential failures. The army is working with industry and academic experts to move forward from the proof of concept stage. The next step will be to create AI drivers

NEW DELHI: From analysing sentiments in conflict stricken Kashmir to detecting terror infrastructure across the border to picking up critical pieces of information from speeches of terrorist leaders, the Indian Army plans to use Artificial Intelligence to take the fight to the next level.

The army also plans to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that could predict, for instance, when a tank would require its next servicing, its life left and potential failures.

Work on developing AI technologies started after the National AI Task Force recommended that the three defence services work on 10 AI projects. The projects focus on imagery, text, speech and predictive analysis. Officials said these four areas were the “drivers” of AI. An army directorate has already made some proofs of concept on these. The army didn’t respond till press time Monday to a request for comment.

The proof of concept on imagery involves detecting enemy targets on satellite images, officials said. “This will use the same AI technology that is used to detect cancer cells. The AI engine will be fed with a thousand images to enable it to identify and locate those images and translate them to targets on a satellite image. Each image has a different geometrical structure … a tank will look different in a satellite image,” explained one of them.

In the case of text, it works by the AI engine picking out particular words of a user. This would be used for the sentiment of social media posts, including on Twitter and WhatsApp — to understand public sentiment, for instance, in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan. Likewise, the main points in a speech given by a terrorist leader would be analysed to understand the sentiment behind it. Currently, this task has to be done manually, which can be time-consuming.

Officials explained that these two technologies are likely to amplify the counter-terrorist strategy in J&K through better understanding of the tactics adopted by terrorists. They could help security forces understand the kind of targets of terrorist groups, their attack modes, the manner of radicalising the youth and the support base they are looking for. The analysis of speeches of terrorist leaders could also lead to possible indications of targets and their pattern of movement. Officials added that this could improve the intelligence flow with the forces accordingly carrying out counter-measures in Road Opening Parties for better IED protection, improving Cordon and Search Operations, conducting hard-intelligence based operations and moreover countering terror recruitment. The AI could also indicate the fighting abilities of the terrorists.

Meanwhile, the proof of concept for predictive analysis would be for the assessments of important equipment, such as its health as well as to point out possible failures, based on data from past years. All the AI engines can also be used together.

The army is working with industry and academic experts to move forward from the proof-of-concept stage. The next step will be to create the AI drivers.

“The proofs of concept will be the building blocks in helping us create the four AI drivers. If you have sorted this out, then you can make any of the 10 projects, which will be for deriving intelligence,” an official explained.

While AI will quicken and organise intelligence gathering, there is a shortage of manpower and expertise in this field. China, meanwhile, is quickly developing AI for its military, including for unmanned aircraft.