First, computers beat humans in the game of Go. Now computers are beating humans at something that might be a tad more practical: Flight combat.
Image: Lisa Ventre, University of Cincinnati
A new AI system developed at the University of Cincinnati has soundly beaten retired US Air Force Colonel Gene Lee in a high-fidelity air combat simulation. Lee, who has been training pilots since the 1980s, was shot down every time, was unable to score a single kill and said he was “surprised at how aware and reactive it was”.
The AI, called ALPHA, beat human pilots even when its speed, weapons and sensor capabilities were limited. Supposedly, ALPHA can come up with strategies “over 250 times faster than ALPHA’s human opponents could blink”, even though it can run on a Raspberry Pi machine with limited processing power. The goal is for it to one day control a fleet of unmanned combat vehicles while helping a human pilot. Now this is technology that we had better be sure doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
[UC Magazine, via Engadget]
This story originally appeared on Gizmodo
Comments
6 responses to “When It Comes To Flying: AI 1, Air Force Colonel 0”
Yeah, but how did the AI fare in the shirtless beach volleyball game afterwards? As long as the Kelly McGillises of the world are out there needing pleasuring, there will always be a need for human fighter pilots.
Glorious.
Welp, we’ve had a good run. Mostly. Kinda.
So long, everyone.
You took my Breath away… With that statement
I for one welcome our AI overlords. As long as they continue with the awesome acrobatics.
Yes, but did the AI give him the bird? You know, the finger?