In the 4.5-billion-year history of Earth, humans (homo sapiens) are relatively new, appearing only some 300,000 years ago. Evolving over millennia, through various predecessor species, the process has so far been biological and slow. Through this period, various species have been dominant, with those higher up the food chain generally being more powerful — till humans arrived and then made brain power more important than pure muscle power. Meanwhile, many species have become extinct, with human activity being a major factor in hastening — if not causing — this, especially post-industrialization. Historically, then, it should be no surprise if, someday, humans — who have sought, largely successfully — to be the dominant species, lose their pole position. Is that day almost here?
This existential question is triggered by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its exponentially accelerating advancement. Though its roots go back many years, it has really taken wing in this decade, entering the public domain and popular lexicon with ChatGPT. The latter has penetrated the consumer market at unprecedented speed, far surpassing the record of all past apps and technologies. AI itself is fast becoming as ubiquitous as electricity, with exploding numbers of individual or personal users, and its widespread utilization by business, industry, and government. While it has great possibilities for use in health, education, and many other areas, its use and tremendous potential in the field of defence (or offence!) is the major factor driving further R&D in AI.